MLB again this year has “transformed a luxury home in the desert into a playground of content creation,” attempting to teach players “skills that can help them stand out on social media and in broader pop culture,” according to Emmanuel Morgan of the N.Y. TIMES. Cubs SS Dansby Swanson, one of the few active players to host a podcast and post on YouTube, said expanding the game’s reach is “part of our responsibility as professional athletes.” He said, “We need to be a little bit more open to showcase what we do. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s just about finding an authentic way to do it.” MLB VP/Player Engagement E.J. Aguado said, “Our players really want to do dope stuff, but if no one brings them opportunities, it’s for nothing.” Aguado said that over 30 athletes attended the league’s first content house in Arizona in 2023. An MLB spokesperson said that 94 athletes took part last month, when the idea expanded to Florida. Swanson said that the experience “made it easy for him to tape two podcast episodes in one day and that the concept is proof that players and league executives are branching out” (N.Y. TIMES, 3/18).
MLB’s content house giving players new set of off-the-field skills
