Rays teach St. Pete kids the ‘science of baseball’

Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg students have unique substitute teachers this week as part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Science of Baseball program.

The initiative, now in its fourth year, offers a fun and engaging way to supplement traditional classes. Rays operations and creative services staff teach STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum through baseball-centric instruction and interactive activities.

Monday’s session focused on math, as students calculated statistics like a hitter’s on-base percentage and a pitcher’s strikeout-to-walk ratio. Isha Rahman, coordinator of baseball operations for the Rays, believes the lessons help students realize the subject appears in sports and “other areas where they might not even expect it.”

“It was cool when they were learning how to do something for the first time, and seeing them figure out how to do it and then apply it to the next problem,” Rahman said. “There’s definitely more math in baseball than in other sports.”

A proficiency in math can mean the difference between winning and losing a game in an analytics-driven sport like baseball. Rahman noted that defensive players remain stationary for much of the game while awaiting a baseball to come their way, and offensive players sit idly in the dugout until their next at-bat.

“So, there are a lot of opportunities to calculate different scenarios that could happen in the game,” she added. “I work alongside people who use it (math) every day.”

Rahman, a biology major, said health regimens, injury prevention programs, trade calculations and deciding “who to bring up to the major leagues in order to get the best advantage” involve math and science. Contract negotiations are an obvious example of incorporating the former subject.

Academy Prep offers a supportive academic environment for students who may not succeed in traditional school settings. The nonprofit middle school’s goal is to inspire and empower economically disadvantaged students to become future community leaders through rigorous programming and ongoing graduate support.

Gina Burkett, head of school for Academy Prep, said the Rays have partnered with the school since its inception. She said the two institutions have a “fantastic relationship,” and the initiative fosters enthusiasm for STEAM education.

“You’re always looking for opportunities to show children how real-life experiences impact them when it comes to math and science,” Burkett said. “A lot of times, they don’t see that in the classroom.”

The Science of Baseball program is now in its fourth year.

Burkett described the gratitude felt by educators when students make real-world connections to a project. They see a “light kind of a turn on,” a smile and a “little extra excitement” not typically found in a traditional classroom setting.

Burkett credited the Rays for their community involvement. She said their “investment in education in the youth of St. Petersburg has been amazing.”

Ari Edwards, a seventh grader at the school, said he can “tolerate” baseball but is more of a soccer fan. However, math is his favorite subject, and solving baseball-related problems provided a sense of accomplishment.

Rahman did not toss softball questions to the children, most of whom have attended Rays games. Many of the equations included basic algebra.

Rahman helped students discern a player’s on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), which provides a holistic view of offensive performance. The Rays are among the best in baseball at utilizing analytics and the science behind the sport to gain a competitive edge on a tight budget.

Malaysjia Cooper, also in seventh grade, said she appreciates overcoming the difficulty associated with calculating numbers. “At first, when it’s a little challenging, you think you actually can’t do it,” she said.

“But then, if you actually put in the work and try, it works out for you.”

The students received backpacks from the Rays, who previously visited the Academy Prep Center of Lakeland. The team will share the Science of Baseball with the Tampa campus next week.

Since 2022, the program has provided over 4,800 hours of STEAM instruction. The Rays Baseball Foundation also annually awards scholarships to the region’s three Academy Prep campuses.

The Tampa Bay Rays visit each Academy Prep Center campus for one week and provide lessons for over 100 students.