Ever wondered what truly goes on behind the scenes during Major League Baseball’s spring training? It’s not just players warming up for the season—it’s a high-stakes evaluation period where careers can be made or broken. Meet Mike Borzello, an advance scout whose day begins long before the first player stretches on the field or fans fill the stands. While most see spring training as a casual prelude to the grueling 162-game season, Borzello is already deep in analysis, dissecting roster battles, defensive strategies, and subtle trends that box scores often miss. But here’s where it gets controversial: Are scouts like Borzello undervalued in a sport increasingly dominated by analytics?
From the outside, spring training looks like exhibition baseball—a relaxed warmup. Inside the front office, however, it’s a critical evaluation period. “You need a perspective that’s not your own,” Padres manager Craig Stammen emphasizes. Scouts like Borzello offer that unique lens, analyzing the game analytically rather than emotionally. They track pitch sequences, defensive alignments, and player decisions, searching for insights that could give their team a competitive edge. And this is the part most people miss: Scouts aren’t just observing; they’re predicting future performance based on nuanced details that others might overlook.
This perspective is especially vital in March, when roster spots are still up for grabs. For players on the bubble, the difference between making the Opening Day roster and being sent to Triple-A often hinges on these evaluations. “We’re analyzing our own players, making decisions on who fits best as we condense the roster,” Borzello explains. Early in camp, his focus is internal—assessing which young players are ready for the big leagues and which roles are still in play. He tracks pitch selection, defensive positioning, and how players handle high-pressure situations.
But as spring progresses, Borzello’s role shifts. “Once we’re closer to the season, I start advancing the opposition,” he notes. This involves studying upcoming opponents like the Detroit Tigers or the Giants, creating detailed reports on their tendencies, bullpen usage, and lineup construction. These reports become the backbone of the team’s early-season strategy—a behind-the-scenes effort fans rarely see.
After games, Borzello’s work isn’t done. He heads to the clubhouse, questioning players and coaches to clarify what he observed. Later, at home, he reviews video footage pitch by pitch, ensuring his notes align with reality. “It’s about consistency,” he says. “Can a pitcher command the strike zone repeatedly? Can a bench player execute situational at-bats under pressure?”
For A.J. Preller, Padres’ general manager, this meticulous evaluation is crucial but tricky. “Spring training can be deceiving,” Preller warns. “You have to put everything in context.” Pitchers experiment with new grips, hitters focus on timing, and competition levels vary. Yet, the information gathered during this period is invaluable.
Borzello’s payoff comes months later—in a tight September series where a lineup adjustment or defensive shift stems from a detail he noted weeks earlier. “It’s about winning,” he simplifies. “When you contribute to a big win, that’s when you feel the job’s worth it.”
So, as the sun rises over the complex the morning after Opening Day, what’s next? “Rinse and repeat,” Borzello says with a smile. But here’s a thought-provoking question for you: In an era of advanced analytics, do traditional scouts like Borzello still hold the key to a team’s success, or are they becoming relics of the past? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
