Play Ball! CSU Student Lands Dream Internship with the Cleveland Guardians

Reaching the major leagues is a goal many spend a lifetime chasing.

Brooke Bechtel can now say she has done it. Well, sort of.

The senior sociology major and sport and entertainment management minor recently completed an internship with the Cleveland Guardians, but it almost did not happen. She originally entered CSU as a history major on a pre-law track.

“I planned on becoming a civil rights attorney. However, after a sociology course I took during my first semester, I felt my calling change,” she said. “I wanted to learn more in-depth about society, its structures, and how individuals interact with each other. Switching my major empowered me to rethink my career path.”

That interest in sociology led Bechtel to seek a career centered on purpose and impact. As a first-year student, she used LinkedIn to explore opportunities related to community engagement and social impact and discovered careers in collegiate and professional sports that aligned with her interests. That led to conversations with Cleveland-area sports professionals who helped shape her career goals, ultimately leading her to add a sport and entertainment management minor to her portfolio and focus on how sports can drive social change.

“As an athlete, I have seen how sports bring people together and create opportunities to strengthen communities,” she said.

Before taking her first sport management course as a junior, Bechtel built a network through LinkedIn and her leadership role on Cleveland State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which led to additional opportunities.

“During my sophomore year, I regularly met with industry professionals to learn about their careers. Matt Grimes (former head of engagement and belonging for the Cleveland Guardians), later contacted me on LinkedIn about an internship opportunity,” Bechtel said. “Drawing on my experience leading community-focused initiatives as Cleveland State’s Belonging and Impact Officer, I earned the opportunity to begin my career in professional sports in my hometown.”

A TASTE OF THE BIG LEAGUES

As an intern with the Cleveland Guardians, Bechtel proved to be the equivalent of what is known as a “five-tool player” at the major-league level—someone who can do it all—contributing across a wide range of projects and responsibilities.

“I helped plan and execute five Community Night celebration games, represented the organization at events such as Juneteenth and Pride, and collaborated across departments and affinity groups,” she said. “One of my most meaningful projects involved researching and developing strategies to improve ballpark accessibility. A memorable experience was touring the team’s player facilities, including the locker room, weight room, and recovery areas.”

Bechtel said the most rewarding part of the internship was engaging directly with the community at festivals and events. She also valued the opportunity to work closely with Matt Grimes and Kwan, manager of engagement and belonging. Their mentorship helped her grow professionally and gain confidence in her abilities.

“They created an environment where I felt supported, trusted and encouraged to learn from mistakes,” she said. “Their leadership left a lasting impression on me and shaped the kind of mentor I hope to become for future interns.”

Bechtel also said that during her time with the Guardians, she developed stronger interpersonal skills by observing colleagues interact effectively with fans, community members, local businesses and teammates, then applying those approaches in her own interactions. 

“I also gained organizational skills and a deeper understanding of baseball operations, including the distinction between the business and baseball sides and the extensive coordination required to execute different types of game days,” she said.

As Bechtel approaches her projected graduation date in May 2027, she noted that CSU has played a major role in her success to this point.

“CSU has given me the resources and agency in SAAC to plan and execute my own programming events. I would not have landed my internship with the Guards had I not had so many SAAC projects under my belt highlighting my ability to lead others,” she said. “When I spoke with Dr. Bloomberg following Cleveland State’s SAAC being recognized by Insight into Academia Magazine’s 2026 Civic Engagement and Community Service award list, I expressed that to her. I also believe it was instrumental in my being selected to last fall’s Allstate NACDA Good Works Team, a national honor given to only 60 student-athletes annually.”