Out of the Park: The Role Player Effect
Happy Labor Day! As we head into a weekend-long celebration of workers across the nation, this month’s newsletter turns the focus to the people with one specific job to do. In baseball we call them role players. And though they may not take the field every game, the value they add makes them critical to the success of the team.
Take veteran player Randal Guichuk, for example. When you speak to him, you hear the voice of someone who understands what it means to play their role.
One month after arriving via a trade from Arizona, he described the Kansas City Royals clubhouse as “an inclusive group that likes being together.” That matters, because the difference between cohesion and division is in the teambuilding moments that happen off the field.
Grichuk has lived on both sides of baseball. As a Little League World Series star in 2003 and 2004, the game felt easy. Now, the 12-year MLB veteran knows he won’t play each game, but still puts in the mental preparation as though he will. “I go into every day thinking I’ll get an at-bat. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but I’ve got to be prepared.”
That’s the role player’s reality.
If they play, it’s usually just one shot. They plan to deliver, but we all know that doesn’t always happen. Veteran role players know that instead of spiraling after a key moment goes awry, tomorrow may bring another opportunity. Instead of pressing to prove he belongs, experienced players trust their preparation. That mindset shift can be a challenge for their less seasoned teammates to understand.
It’s a lesson that teams anywhere can learn from. Not everyone can be a superstar, but they can be ready to step in - and up - when their number is called. And sometimes that’s the difference between winning and losing, inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium dreams
Every team has stars and role players, and baseball is no exception. This month, Freddy Fermin left Kansas City at the trade deadline to become San Diego’s new starting catcher. Ryan Bergert arrived from the Padres to take on a new role in the Royals’ rotation.
Bergert’s first start as a Royal came at my favorite ballpark in the majors and the oldest of them all: Fenway Park. He pitched with poise, seemingly unfazed by the nerves. Like so many before him, he took the obligatory trip inside the Green Monster to sign the wall and leave his mark. It was a rite of passage, and the start of a new chapter with a new role to play.
I’ve written about Fenway before, and I’ll never stop. It opened in 1912 the same week the Titanic sank and feels like a living museum. One of my favorite things to do there is just take in the surroundings, like so many millions before me have done. There’s a new vantage point around every corner. Sometimes obstructed, often imperfect, but revealing of its age, character, and history.
That’s the charm of Fenway. It’s not pristine and polished. It’s layered with time, with memories, and with roles passed down from one generation to the next. From Bergert carving out his spot on a new team, to Fermin stepping into his opportunity in San Diego, to the fans who fill every quirky seat, they’re all examples of why roles, big and small, matter so much to the story of the game.
Local flavor
Every summer when the Royals head north of the border, I find myself making the case that Toronto might just be the best city in the big leagues. It takes the familiar and blends it with the unexpected for a vibe that goes unmatched.
My favorite stop every year is St. Lawrence Market. They call it one of the world’s great markets, and for good reason. You’ll find more than 120 vendors serving up everything from farm-fresh produce to breads still warm from the oven. Families have been running stalls for generations. Makers pour themselves into their craft.
I also love how easy Toronto is to walk. Clean, diverse, and full of character. One minute you’re standing in front of a Popeye’s Chicken, and the next you’re eyeing an Iraqi restaurant. The mix of cultures is everywhere and if you spend even ten minutes chatting with a cab driver, you’re guaranteed to hear a story that sticks.
And then there’s the skyline. No matter where you are in the city, the CN Tower looms in view, representing the city’s reach. When the roof is open at Rogers Centre, it seems to hover directly over the ballpark. Some thrill-seekers even strap into a harness and walk along the edge at the top. That’s a “role” I won’t play.
From the modern architecture to the old-world market, Toronto stitches together the best that baseball and culture have to offer. Every trip is another reminder that some of the best parts of the season aren’t just the games. It’s the places they take you.
Dugout dialogue
Baseball is a game of fierce competition, played almost daily over a grueling, months-long season. As rigorous as its demands can be, what’s even more challenging are some of the goodbyes.
The Royals recently traded Freddy Fermin, a fan favorite and the ultimate role player. Freddy was never the loudest voice in the clubhouse, but he always showed up prepared. He did the little things right and worked relentlessly, earning him the respect of his teammates and coaches.
I wrote about Freddy in Small Ball Big Dreams as a model of hard work and perseverance, and I’ve shared stories of how his presence lifted the clubhouse. When I posted my thoughts about his trade on X, more than 62,000 people viewed it, proof that fans felt the same way. Freddy exemplified why role players matter just as much as the stars.
This month’s interview is a little different. It’s just me. In it, I share Freddy’s journey, why he mattered so much in Kansas City, what he taught me about culture, leadership, and the small ball values that are as fundamental on the field as they are in life.
Role players are as important off the field as they are on it. How do these unsung heroes keep the line moving in the corporate world? Watch this month’s sit down with Chief of Staff KC’s Casey Wright to find out.
speaking engagements
With the off-season on the horizon, I have begun booking engagements though the winter and would love to add your event to the roster.
My Game Changer Speaking Series addresses universal topics like trust, culture, grit and resilience that apply to every team, whether baseball fans or not.
If you have an event coming up, it’s time we play ball. To inquire about my keynote series, event moderation or custom video content, just click the link below. A member of my team will get back to you right away.
Rounding the bases rewind
Michael Mackie may not be famous, but he deserves to be by proxy. Pick a celebrity and chances are he’s interviewed them… twice. He’s the ultimate role player who has made a name for himself as a TV personality, radio host and newly-minted author, using his razor-sharp wit and signature style to cut through all the noise.
This was one of the most fun interviews I’ve done in a long time. It’s as clever, candid and charismatic as the man himself. If you missed its release earlier this week, be sure to listen now. You’ll be glad you did.
Finally, another thank you to each of this month’s standout guests who joined me on the pod this month:
Our schedule is already booked into the fall, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
When teams succeed, it’s rarely due to raw talent alone. Instead, they reach peak performance when every player knows their role and plays it well. Just like in baseball you wouldn’t want your closer batting cleanup, in a corporate setting, you wouldn’t want your top performing salesperson in the mailroom. Teams win when people step into the roles that fit them best.
That lesson came through out and clear during a recent episode on my podcast, Rounding the Bases when I was joined by a guest who gets results where they matter most: Behind the scenes where people, process and purpose collide.
Lindsay Howerton is a fractional COO and consultant who empowers companies to scale with clarity and intention. From manufacturing floors to strategy-focused boardrooms, she brings a rare blend of operational rigor and people-first leadership that optimizes potential into performance.
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