“I have really high expectations for myself,” said Martell, a senior marketing major, starting shortstop for Ship’s softball team and summer intern with the Boston Red Sox. “I have this mindset of, ‘Don’t let anyone outwork you. Be the hardest worker in the room…’ and that’s allowed me to get where I am today.”
Caitlyn Martell’s hardworking and ambitious mindset is a main contributor to her academic, athletic and professional success. She describes herself as someone who is “never satisfied” and is always seeking out the next challenge.
“Regardless of the outcome, such as achieving an internship like this, I’m always itching for what’s next, what more I can do,” she said. “I feel like having a go-getter, never-satisfied attitude has helped me.”
Martell’s internship with the Red Sox allows her to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating the “fan experience” at Fenway Park – one of Major League Baseball’s most historic stadiums.
As a part of the fan services and entertainment team, Martell’s work plays a role in everything within the ballpark. “A lot of it is about making people happy and enhancing the experience for fans coming into the ballpark.”
Her responsibilities range from sorting through fan feedback and responding to guest concerns to coordinating pregame ceremonies such as the national anthem, first pitches and heritage celebration nights. While working in the field, she consistently communicates with the production crew and other team members via headset.
Martell has happily taken on and embraced the level of responsibility placed upon her. “My second week here, I started getting people in line, taking pronunciations and radioing them up – making sure everyone’s ready. There’s a lot of responsibility, which is really cool.”
This isn’t Martell’s first experience working in professional baseball. Last summer, Martell interned with the MLB’s corporate office, working in sponsorships and partnerships. She noted that her time with corporate helped her gain a broad view into the world of major league baseball, whereas her current internship allows her to focus on the fan experience of one particular league.
“Being able to take something I love like baseball and pair it with work, while also being in a ballpark and surrounded by awesome people, it’s opened my eyes to what the future can hold.”
Martell credits her passion and preparedness within her internship to her experience as a student-athlete at Ship. “As a student athlete, I’ve learned how to compartmentalize things, multitask and manage my time.”
Another important quality that she gained through being on the softball team is the ability to have confidence and remain unfazed. “You can’t be out there scared,” she said. “And in my internship, there’s no room to be shy or hesitate to speak up. It’s fast-paced. You have to own your decisions.”
Looking ahead to her senior year this fall and beyond, Martell says she feels more certain than ever about her future career path. “This internship has made me fall in love with the business side of baseball,” she said. “Working in a department where the whole goal is to make the fans happy and make their day, it’s so rewarding… and it’s really cool to see how marketing plays a role in that.”
Martell pays her respects to her family for supporting her every step of the way. “My family has supported me through everything, especially my grandma. She’s been to all my games and has always been my biggest supporter.”
As Martell continues her internship at Fenway Park and gets ready for another season of Ship softball, she continues to prove how confidence and hard work truly pay off.
