Former Bethune-Cookman University baseball standout Jordan Thomas is one of five selected as an inaugural recipient of the Texas Rangers’ Charley Pride Fellowship.
Named in honor of the Country Music Hall of Famer who also had an ownership stake with the Rangers prior to his death in 2020, The Charley Pride Fellowship Program was established to help create a launching pad for students from diverse backgrounds looking to gain baseball front office experience. The program is designed for the students to gain valuable cross-disciplinary skills that will benefit them should they choose to pursue a career in professional baseball or any other industry.
The 10-week internship opportunity with the team’s front office will have the Fellows in a three-department rotation based on their interests while working approximately 20 hours per week. Those departments available for these fellows to work include, IT Operations and Applications, Sports and Entertainment, Baseball Operations, Partnerships and Client Services, Communications, Marketing, Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions and Production, Ticket Sales and Service, and Business Analytics and Ticket Strategy.
“Sports bridges the gap between culture and beliefs,” said Jordan, now a graduate student at Temple University. “Charley being a part of ownership stuck out to me … I want to be a part of ownership someday.”
Thomas was a shortstop when he started his B-CU career in 2012, but by 2015 he was also handling duties in the outfield. That carried over to his playing career, and has also played a role in his transition to management.
“Being on the other side of baseball is like being a utility player,” Thomas said. “That’s a good skill to have – being able to do multiple things.”
Thomas was a part of the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship that registered the program’s second-ever postseason against Columbia in the Coral Gables regional.
Bethune-Cookman baseball returns to action in 2022 for its first season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.