Entering the summer of 2022, Rylee Pay accepted an internship with the Cotuit Kettleers as a sideline reporter. She was going into her senior year at UNLV, having worked as an on-field emcee for the Wisconsin Rapids of the Northwoods League the previous summer. When she took the role in Cotuit, the team didn’t just want her as a sideline reporter though; they asked if she would also be interested in taking on a broadcasting role as part of their play-by-play team.
Shortly after Rylee came to the Cape League, there was a game in Orleans where her career would take one of its most impactful turns. “My two broadcast partners turned and asked me if I wanted to do play-by-play for the next inning, and I will never say no to an opportunity, even if it scares me just a little bit. So I said yes, and it all kind of took off from there.” Rylee was continuously challenged in her new role but kept working at it, calling innings here and there, building up experience in the booth. By the end of the summer, she had assumed a more significant role in the booth, and continued broadcasting when she returned to school.
“Every day you learn something new. You're challenged by people there to become better because there are so many talented people.” Rylee also mentions how the intern coordinators provided her with all the tools she needed to flourish, including the creative freedom to conduct sit-down interviews with players, individual features, and most importantly, getting reps calling innings in the booth. Now with the Boston Red Sox Double-A affiliate Portland Sea Dogs, Rylee has taken the bulk of the work and is a step closer to MLB.
While her broadcaster partner Emma Tiedmann is out on maternity leave, Rylee has been flying solo on the Sea Dogs broadcast. When Tiedmann returns, they’ll reunite as the second ever professionally-affiliated all-female booth, and the first in Double-A history. While it’s safe to say Rylee is more concerned about the body of work between herself and her co-workers, she is also able to appreciate what it means to be a part of history.
When asked about what pioneering the broadcasting industry means to her, Rylee says “it's really neat to be a part of that and to hopefully be that kind of visual for other girls that want to do it.” She had grown up watching Melanie Newman on the Baltimore Orioles broadcast, and that’s where she learned it’s not about gender, but about talent and work ethic. She also learned that if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to perfect your craft, there are no limits on how much you can achieve.
When Rylee was with Cotuit, she broadcasted games along with Jake Starr and Tim Crowley. She affirms how the two of them played crucial roles in her development as a broadcaster, and she wouldn't be the play-by-play analyst she is today without them. When asked what it’s like for someone to transition to the broadcast booth, Jake acknowledges “when you're kind of put into a position and have something thrown at you, that lot of times will make you a little bit uncomfortable, the best way to grow is to be uncomfortable.” However, Rylee took the opportunity head on, and never backed down from the challenge. “It’s just a testament to the kind of person [Rylee is], the work ethic that she has,” Jake says, “she really just grabbed the bull by the horns and started running with it.”
Now, Rylee and Jake both work for teams in MiLB’s Eastern League, Rylee with Portland and Jake with the Reading Fightin Phils. While on opposing sides, the former Cotuit broadcasters always catch up when their respective teams face off. They’ve come a long way from the Cape League, where so many doors are opened for everyone involved. Players, interns, and coaches alike are presented with new challenges and opportunities daily, where true growth occurs. When asked about the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, she stresses “saying yes to opportunities because you really don't know where they can lead you. In every way it still teaches you something, even if it does kind of terrify you a little bit.”
Rylee will always remember the Cape League fondly, as it served as a stepping stone for her career. In a way, she’s been able to watch the players she called in Cotuit advance through baseball’s ranks along with herself. She recalls watching Victor Scott II and Chandler Simpson play for the Kettleers, both top prospects in Major League organizations now. One of her favorite memories was on the road, calling her first home run, when Mitch Jebb of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks blasted a three-run home run. Now, she gets to call some of the Red Sox top prospects, and is cementing herself as a staple in the broadcasting world. Rylee spoke about how she’ll always appreciate everyone that helped her along the way, male or female, and hopes to be that person to lend a hand in the future. Her goal is to one day work in MLB like so many Cape League alumni do.
Even with her busy schedule, Rylee still makes time to keep up on all things Cape League related. “It's really cool to see so many people from the Cape go on to professional baseball…it definitely sets you up in a good spot with tons of opportunities,” Rylee says. Seeing everyone she worked with advancing their careers like she did is great to see. Now that the Cape League season has begun, Rylee is watching from afar in Portland. The Cape League was such an important step for her professional career, and a summer she’ll never forget; “I miss it all the time. It's one of the best experiences ever.”
The Cape League is not just the most prestigious summer league for players to showcase their talent, but it’s continually turning out the next generation of professionals in the sports industry. Interns from all across the league, in all different roles, are presented with a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience and build valuable connections. These experiences and connections often lead to successful careers, not just in baseball, but all realms of the sports world. ESPN’s Mike Monaco, lead play-by-play broadcaster in the College World Series, worked with the Wareham Gatemen as one of their broadcasters. Rylee’s case is no different, and the Cape League was a massive step in her development into the broadcaster she is today.
She’s already inspired so many girls and young women to chase their dreams, we're excited to see where Rylee's career goes in the future.
(Photos via Alysa Rubin, Rylee Pay)
