Legends Sponsor UK Students to Attend 2017 MLB Winter Meetings

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 14, 2017) — For the third consecutive year, the Lexington Legends sponsored a group of students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, to attend Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings, an annual event held each December, that includes seminars, a trade show and a job fair at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida. This week’s event marks the first year the Legends have partnered with students from the University of Kentucky.

Over the last several months, the Legends have developed a partnership with the UK chapter of the national student group MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences), led by faculty advisor Quentin Tyler, assistant dean and director for diversity in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

"The Legends are pleased to be able to partner with this UK student group and provide guidance for this first step towards their career," said Legends President/CEO Andy Shea. "We appreciate the students' interest, and we think they will really enjoy the opportunity to learn firsthand from experts about a variety of careers in baseball."

The 2017 MLB Winter Meetings began this past Sunday and wind up later today (Thursday, Dec. 14). The Winter Meetings are an annual gathering of representatives of all 30 Major League Baseball teams and their 160 Minor League Baseball affiliates. Personnel from all teams convene for four days to discuss league business and conduct off-season trades and transactions. Some of MLB’s biggest player trades and free agent signings occur at Winter Meetings, but much of the agenda at the minor league level concerns the off-the-field business of professional baseball.

The job fair, which the UK students attended, provided connections and opportunities for those who would like to work in baseball in a variety of areas, including promotions, ticket sales, community relations, media relations, broadcasting and others.

The students also had the opportunity to attend the Business of Baseball seminars and workshops, which have been part of the winter meetings for more than 20 years and cover a wide range of baseball business topics. Students also took in the trade show,  which featured hundreds of vendors from various aspects of the baseball industry.

In addition to entry fees, the Legends are supporting the students through a one-year subscription to PBEO.com (Professional Baseball Employment Opportunities), the official employment service of Minor League Baseball.

The UK students who are attending the meetings are: Drexler Blue, Montreale Jones, Jericho Curry, Mia Farrell, Ty’Asia Jones, Jahqtehea Johnson and Aerin Mitchell. The students are being accompanied by Tyler. 

The Legends said they are excited to expand upon their growing partnership with the University of Kentucky through this hands-on educational program.