Matt
Daley ’04
Photos: New York Yankees; Wikimedia Commons
Former Yankees pitcher Matt Daley ’04 now scouts for the team.
Yankees Scout, Former Big Leaguer
After his five-year Major League Baseball career ended in 2014, Matt Daley ’04 knew he wanted to stay in the game in some capacity. The former pitcher — he recorded 98 strikeouts in 100 innings with the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees — was offered a scouting job with the “Bronx Bombers,” traveling America’s back roads in search of the next great talent. Daley fell in love with the role. Today, he works out of the Yankees’ front office as director of pro scouting.
Who would be your dream signing?
a. Babe Ruth
b. Derek Jeter
c. Aaron Judge
b. Derek Jeter
c. Aaron Judge
He is the most iconic player of all time. Plus, the candy bar named after him is one of my favorite Halloween treats.
What’s a scout’s best friend?
a. Radar gun
b. Intuition
c. 100,000-mile tires
b. Intuition
c. 100,000-mile tires
Scouts are true road warriors. Some of our scouts spend over 200 nights a year in hotels and have to be away from their families for extended periods of time, all to make the Yankees better.
Favorite baseball song?
a. “Centerfield” by John Fogerty
b. “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” by Les Brown
c. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer
b. “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” by Les Brown
c. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer
If you had asked me a few years ago, I would’ve said “Centerfield,” because it reminds me of all the minor league ballparks across the country that play this song every night. But recently I started singing “Taking Me Out to the Ballgame” to my kids as part of our bedtime routine. Having my 2-year-old ask me to sing this song just melts my heart.
4. What’s the greatest-ever Yankee team?
a. 1927
b. 1961
c. 1998
b. 1961
c. 1998
All of the above. The ’27 team changed the way the game was played offensively, the ’61 team had the amazing home-run chase when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s home-run record, and the ’98 team was one of the deepest and most well-rounded teams of all time.
What’s your favorite activity while waiting for baseball to return?
a. Pulling my hair out like everybody else
b. Studying prospect slash lines
c. Eating ice cream out of a plastic helmet
b. Studying prospect slash lines
c. Eating ice cream out of a plastic helmet
Obviously, the primary concern is the health of everyone around the globe during this pandemic, but sports have a way of bringing people together. I think everyone hopes we can start games sooner rather than later. The lone bright spot has been getting to spend more quality time with my family.
How did Bucknell prepare you for a life in baseball?
I was fortunate to play for Coach Gene Depew ’71, M’79, who always stressed that academics were the No. 1 priority. He created a culture in which I was able to play baseball, study abroad and join a fraternity, all while maintaining my coursework. In baseball, each day brings its own challenges — from managing a staff of 20 to talking through potential player acquisitions with other teams — so having a well-rounded liberal arts background definitely prepared me for my professional life.