Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management Graduate Lands Prestigious Internship With MLB's Toronto Blue Jays Alumni Profile
Meet Robelin Bautista
- Job Title & Employer
- Gulf Coast League Player Development Intern, Toronto Blue Jays
- Major/Program
- Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management
- Graduation
- December 2019
- College Activities
- Point Park University Baseball Team
- Hometown
- El Seibo, Dominican Republic
- High School
- Politecnico Santa Cruz (Fe y Alegria)
- Now Living In
- Dunedin, Fla.
- Dream Job
- Management/front office role at the MLB level
- Hobbies & Interests
- Music, traveling and languages
"The diversity of the school and faculty and how well I was welcomed on campus were the biggest factors that convinced me to attend Point Park University. I was at ease when I saw many students from my culture from all over the world and all over the United States there."
How did you land your position with the Toronto Blue Jays?
As a sports, arts and entertainment management student, I attended the 2019 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego. At the meetings, I was exposed to numerous front office staff from all clubs through different meetings and panels that were offered.
L to R: Point Park University students Justin Joyce,
Carlos Polanco, Keera Frye and Robelin Bautista at the
MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego
Also, I was selected to move to the second round of the MLB Diversity Fellowship Program. This allowed me to showcase my talents and skills in front of hiring managers from the different clubs attending the events. After interviewing with multiple organizations, I decided on the Toronto Blue Jays because they offered the best opportunity to start my career in baseball and I truly believe in the organization’s values and culture.
Tell us about your experiences so far including working with other MLB teams, as well as ESPN.
The Blue Jays have provided me with opportunities that I never anticipated. Due to COVID-19, my experience has slightly shifted. I was supposed to be on the field every day and doing some office work. However, due to the current circumstances, I have been working hands on for many departments, helping with multiple projects such as providing assistance to the international players with Visas and helping them adjust to U.S. culture and language, translating team documents and helping with the 2020 MLB Draft.
Additionally, I have been moderating for player guidance and mentorship on Zoom calls alongside Eduardo Pérez, MLB analyst for ESPN and Ruben Amaro Jr., former Philadelphia Phillies general manager and pre- and post-game television analyst for NBC Sports Philadelphia, along with Toronto Blue Jay Major League coaches and Manager Charlie Montoyo.
As an international student, what factors made you choose Point Park University in Pittsburgh?
After searching for several schools and being enrolled in other college programs, I went on a visit to Point Park University where I was introduced to Coach Loren Torres and Rebecca Lee and Amanda Avampato from the International Student Services and Enrollment Office. I immediately felt that Point Park was the perfect place for me due to the warm welcome that I received on my visit.
Amanda was my biggest supporter. She always helped me find solutions to my concerns and simply made life at Point Park so much easier for me. I loved the culture on campus; I did not feel different. The diversity of the school and faculty and how well I was welcomed on campus were the biggest factors that convinced me to attend Point Park University. I was at ease when I saw many students from my culture from all over the world and all over the United States there.
How have the SAEM classes and faculty impacted the work you do?
The SAEM program prepared me for the real world indeed. The SAEM faculty members and their industry experience truly made an impact on my experience throughout my time at Point Park. The coursework I completed and projects I created during my undergrad allowed me to think more rapidly and come up with new ideas when needed.
Professors Robert Derda, Charles Berry, Paige Beal and others helped me to find the potential I had in me and helped me start shaping my thought process to be able to think more critically and make decisions.
What do you miss about Point Park and Pittsburgh?
The campus and the relationships created with faculty members and classmates are what I miss the most about Point Park University.
I also miss the City of Pittsburgh in general. The city life was something I had never experienced before so it really impacted me. It was so convenient to not have to worry about if it was snowing because it was so easy to get to class. Sometimes I didn’t even exit my dorm building to get to class because Lawrence Hall and Academic Hall are connected. I miss that, too.