Dugout Dish

Despite the sights and sounds of professional baseball being played throughout the country, Minor League Baseball had to hang its hat until 2021.

The official announcement came on June 30, 2020, and left many who work in MiLB wondering what comes next for the league.

Dugout Dish had the opportunity to speak with Taylor Fisher and Courtney Baker on the current situation in MiLB. Both are employed with Minor League organizations.

“It’s been quite a wild few months for us. A couple of weeks before COVID hit, Nashville was hit by a tornado on March 3rd that went right through our neighborhood and caused some damage to the ballpark.” Fisher said.

Fisher is the Director of Sales for the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and understands this is uncharted territory for everyone.

He continued, “Between that and the pandemic, we’ve had to do a lot of adjusting and adapting on the fly. The pandemic has created a ton of uncertainty for us.”

He and his Nashville Sounds are remaining positive despite the misfortune COVID-19 and 2020 has served them. “We just want to make sure that the people who support us every single year are doing ok. All of us are being affected in some way or another by what’s going on – we can all relate to one another on some level.”

Fisher has worked in baseball for eight years, starting at the summer collegiate level and working his way into Minor League Baseball.

“I always knew I wanted to work in sports, but I confirmed that I want to be a baseball lifer my very first day working in baseball back in 2013. Baseball has been very good to me, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me once we get back to normal.”

Courtney Baker is the Corporate Partnerships Account Manager for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and shares Fisher’s sentiments on adjusting and adapting on the fly.

“For me, it’s been really difficult. Seeing Major League Baseball returning, we were just waiting for the news of MiLB being canceled. There’s no way to make it sound better, we’ve watched our entire industry shut down.”

Baker continued, “We’re all struggling to stay afloat. I have had to rely on my friends within the industry for support. I think most of us are just hoping to not get fully furloughed. Long story short, I cannot wait until 2021.”

This would have been Baker’s second full season with the Reno Aces and her fifth year of baseball experience. “I have known since high school that I wanted to work in baseball. I’ve always loved the sport and going to games.”

She added, “I fell in love with the behind-the-scenes work either my freshman or sophomore year of high school.”

Both Baker and Fisher are eager and anticipating Minor League Baseball’s return next season. A new beginning for all MiLB teams shut down amid a global pandemic.

The sights and sounds, the fans and families that visit both stadiums during the summer. It’s easy to watch the players and the game but without the likes of Baker and Fisher, nothing would run smoothly.

Dugout Dish is thankful for all the MiLB employees that sacrifice so much to bring the game to so many.

You can find Courtney Baker and Taylor Fisher on Twitter at @cbake93 and @taylorfisher.

(Photo Credit: Nashville Sounds)