Math Major Uses Data Science to Help Cal Poly Baseball Team

OCTOBER 2024 / NEWS STORY
by NICK WILSON

Gabe Riedel is a student manager concentrating     
on analytics for the Cal Poly baseball team.

Gabe Riedel loves baseball and he loves mathematics. The third-year math major from Austin, Texas has figured out a fun way to merge his two interests to help the Cal Poly baseball team.

Serving on the student management team focusing on metrics, a group of about 20 students, Riedel digs deep into the

statistical analysis that helps the team make strategic decisions around lineups, pitching and hitting tendencies, scouting reports and more.

“What’s really special about this job is how closely we get to interact with these coaches,” Riedel said. “We talk to them every week and even during games. We build scouting reports for opposing hitters and pitchers. The coaches have really gained trust in us and really care about what we have to say.”

Riedel focuses on applied math in his major, which provides a conceptual foundation for his role with the Mustangs baseball team. He also is working towards a data science minor offered through the Statistics Department.

One of his favorite courses, Introduction to Data Science taught by Statistics Professor Kevin Ross, included study of predictive analysis using complex sets of data, which helps in his baseball metrics role as well.

“When I was young, I always memorized the stats of all the San Francisco Giants’ players,” Riedel said. “I grew up playing baseball as well too. When I stopped playing, I knew I wanted to stay in the game somehow. I had a kind of inkling of doing baseball analytics as a career.”

Riedel is a lifelong baseball fan, becoming a Giants fan while living in the Bay Area as a child before his family moved to Texas.

As a kid, he watched the movie “Moneyball,” featuring the story of how Oakland Athletics’ General Manager Billy Beane innovated the game by incorporating use of statistics in new ways, including emphasis on on-base percentage and slugging percentage in forming a roster of undervalued players.

After arriving at Cal Poly as a freshman, Riedel emailed the university’s head baseball coach, Larry Lee, asking about how he could help use his skill set and Lee connected him with the student metrics team.

In that first year, he recalls how the student specialists recommended a lineup change in between a double header based on statistical analysis.

“We told the coaches we thought a player should be flipped in the order, and they did it,” Riedel said.

The student managers keep meticulous notes and tracking reports. Their work includes using the Trackman system, which gives live data on the metrics of recorded pitches, including spin rates, the type of pitch, velocity and more.

“That spits out this CSV file with all the data from every single pitch from the game,” Riedel said. “And then we get to then toy around with that data. We also have access to this big college database of all Division 1 baseball data. And then during the week, we'll build scouting reports to help prepare for other teams.”

Riedel said the information gathered on opposing hitters and pitchers prepares the team well to gameplan.

“If you have an idea of tendencies, it just gives a much better idea of the approach compared to if you're coming into it blind,” Riedel said. “With a plan, there’s an idea of what you're looking for.”

Riedel said that the “every year, the trust in what we do has increased.”

Last year, the Mustangs posted a successful 35-22 record and finished 20-10 in the Big West Conference, tying for third place.

“The coaches tell us they feel we’re a part of the team,” Riedel said. “We’re in the clubhouse. Our offices are right next to theirs.”

Sharing a bit about his experience at the Bailey College New Student Welcome in Chumash auditorium on Sept. 19, Riedel served on a panel of the Bailey College Ambassadors who offered advice and guidance to new students about the college experience.

“I advise you to jump into something that sounds interesting,” Riedel said. “There are so many clubs, so many things to be involved in, and jobs that can unlock some of your passions. Even if you don’t know what you’re passionate about yet, you can find it.”