Scrappers look to add staff

Team prepares for inaugural season of MLB Draft League

NILES -- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers hosted a job fair Thursday in search of potential employees for the upcoming baseball season.

"We are looking for a variety of game-day positions," Assistant General Manager Heather Sahli said. "Anything from parking to concessions, ticket takers, ushers, some assistant groundskeepers, so a lot of different things."

Sahli said the Scrappers usually have around 200 game-day employees. The pandemic wiped out last year's season and there were talks of the Scrappers folding, but this year marks the first season of the new Major League Baseball Draft League. On Nov. 30, MLB announced the new league with top college-level prospects "eligible to be drafted that summer by MLB teams."

While the team no longer will be affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, fans still will be able to enjoy the same entertainment they previously experienced.

"It's definitely an exciting spring here for us. Being able to open the gates again after so long is exciting in itself, but us just announcing Coco Crisp as our manager has really kickstarted it even more," Sahli said.

Thursday's job fair at Eastwood Field saw a couple of people interviewing for many positions. Sahli said the organization has had a job fair for the last few seasons, adding the fairs are "a nice way to get those interested in working here out and (to) meet with our staff … it's a nice opportunity to interact with the people that are going to be working at our games."

Among those at the fair were Eric Freeman of Girard, Morgan Fetterolf of Newton Falls and Whitney Hendrix of Hubbard. All three said they weren't picky about what they wanted, but each had an idea of what they were seeking.

"My father-in-law sent me a message on social media and said the Scrappers were having a job fair and that I should check it out," Freeman said. "If my grandpa was still alive, he'd tell me to pursue my dream, and one of them is coming and seeing if I can be a part of the organization. I've always dreamed of working for a baseball team."

Fetterolf said she also saw a post on social media and was intrigued.

"It seemed like it would be a fun place to work," she said.

Hendrix heard of the fair from her mother.

"My mom has been looking for jobs for me, saw this opportunity on social media and said I should check it out," Hendrix said.

Sahli said as far as numbers go, the concession operation is the largest of the game-day operations.

"Every position is really important. Every position has a greater responsibility because each of those stops is one experience that's a part of the whole scheme of things," Sahli said.

She added despite the new league, the amenities will be the same.

"Our core values are the same, our entertainment philosophies are still the same and the play on the field is going to be very comparable, if not better," Sahli said. "You're still going to have the same great fan experience you had before COVID-19 and the league changes. Day to day, everything changes as far as guidelines go, but we'll just roll with the punches and do what we can because we want to make it a great experience for our fans that they're used to having."

Opening day for the Scrappers is May 26.