Rays Project Manager Grace Dowling Bridges Analytics and Baseball Operations

Grace Dowling serves as a project manager for the Tampa Bay Rays, a role that places her at the center of the team's analytical infrastructure. The organization recently secured its spot in the World Series, capping a successful 2026 postseason run.

Dowling acts as a liaison between the Rays' baseball systems team, developers, and data engineers. She works to ensure that analytics tools are accessible to analysts, coaches, and scouts. Her position connects technical development with the practical needs of the baseball operations department, which employs several hundred staff members.

"Coaches and the front office know what questions they're trying to answer," Dowling said. "I work with our developers and data engineers to turn that into something they can actually use, in real time."

Her path to the major leagues began at Lake Forest College, where she graduated in 2016 with a degree in communication. She played on the women's tennis team during her undergraduate years. She later earned a master's degree in sports management from Georgetown University. Internships with the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women's Tennis Association provided her with initial industry experience.

The Rays' project manager role appealed to Dowling because of her lifelong connection to the team. She grew up in South Florida as a fan. The position allowed her to combine her professional focus on technology with her personal interest in baseball. Her current responsibilities require her to manage complex workflows while maintaining clear communication across diverse departments.

Dowling credits her education at Lake Forest for developing the soft skills necessary for her current job. She noted that the college environment exposed her to varied perspectives. "Having that exposure to different people and cultures is so important," she said. "You learn to respect more perspectives."

The Rays' company values explicitly include respecting different viewpoints. Dowling stated that this philosophy aligns with her approach to managing cross-functional teams. She emphasized the need for empathy when discussing technical issues with non-technical stakeholders. "Being able to discuss things with others is so important. Communication is key," she said.

The 2026 postseason provided Dowling with a unique vantage point on the organization's internal operations. She was present in New York when the Rays advanced to the American League Championship Series. She watched the team defeat Cleveland at Tropicana Field to clinch the World Series berth. "Being at Tropicana and getting that win was something else," she recalled.

Dowling observed the coordination required to manage a major sporting event. Tasks ranged from stadium operations and human resources to the specific placement of rally towels in every seat. She also noted the logistical planning involved in selecting camera angles for broadcast coverage. "Everyone is all in," she said. "We all came together to get us to that point."