Jin Wong ’97 Visits with Students and Imparts Valuable Advice

Jin Wong '97 takes time after his presentation to speak with business major Jacob Atkinson.

Jin Wong ’97 takes time after his presentation to speak with student Jacob Atkinson.

Jin Wong ‘97 returned to Mary Washington as the keynote for the UMW Athletics Gala on Thursday, May 19. That same day he stopped by the College of Business to speak with a class of business students.  Wong is the Assistant General Manager of Baseball Administration for the Kansas City Royals.

Jin Wong is in his 17th season in the Royals organization and second as Assistant General Manager. He joined the Royals as Scouting Operations Coordinator in 2000, was promoted to Manager of Scouting Operations in 2001, Manager of Baseball Operations in 2002, Director of Baseball Operations in 2004 and Director of Baseball Administration in 2006.

Wong assists GM Dayton Moore in strategic planning as it relates to contract negotiations, salary arbitration matters, and roster management. His responsibilities also include the interpretation and application of the Basic Agreement and major league rules, budgetary procedure for Baseball Operations, and oversight of the club’s video coordination for the major league team.

He came to Kansas City from Richmond, Va., former Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, where he was the Group Sales Manager. Prior to joining Richmond, he worked for Atlanta as a Baseball Operations Trainee in 1997.IMG_2883

During his time with the class, he shared several valuable pieces of advice for career success. “Never be afraid to broaden your horizons. Don’t hesitate to take an internship in California or Minnesota. Step outside your comfort zone. ” Wong’s internship with the Braves helped him figure out that baseball administration was the career for him.  He attributes much of his success to luck and great mentors. “Stay connected with colleagues. Know when to pick up the phone and when it is appropriate to email or text.”  He told the students to be mindful of their digital footprint and be proficient in Excel to set them apart from other job candidates. Perhaps the most important takeaway was the very first thing he said to the students. “Care about your work. Care where you are working – because in the end, your work will reflect that.”

 

 

Speak Your Mind

*