Bats of All Trades: Trackman Evan Rowe

We will share a series of posts that highlight those who don’t make the highlight reel. These individuals put in the work off the field. These are their stories:

A seasoned veteran in the baseball world, Evan Rowe is the man behind the computer. He holds all the top secret information and keeps the records. Well, kind of. Evan operates the Trackman, a radar system that helps track the spin rate of the ball, the velocity of the pitch and several other statistics. The data he collects throughout the game is top secret, but no secret double-agent spy is out for his head. Another MLB executive may text him, which might be equally as scary.

In 2008 and 2009, Rowe got his start in sports as a media relations intern with the University of Louisville in the Sports Information Director office. He dabbled a little in all sports at Louisville, before finishing his season doing video work for the baseball team. This internship took him to the MLB Winter Meetings, where he found himself assisting in the public relations department in the St. Louis Cardinals system in Spring Training. Rowe brought his talents to the Reds organization this spring, when he was fortunate to land his current gig in Louisville.

Even though Rowe is a vet, the Trackman is making its debut, which means he is new on the track. “Learning the pitch type” is what seemed to stump him at first. But after his keen eye read the ball, keeping up with with the game became the challenge. “The hardest part is to mark the single, a fastball, and the pitch.” The sequence must be recorded quickly before the next pitch is thrown.

Evan Rowe has a job that very few are aware of, but a job that most baseball fans should take notice of. The data he collects is vital for the success of a player and the advancement of an organization. His role is pivotal, making his attention to detail and accuracy very important. “I’m having the time of my life” and he is potentially changing the organization.