Mike Medici said he’s been “in the game” his entire life. Though the Avon resident played baseball from a young age and throughout high school, when the opportunity to play professionally didn’t pan out, he turned to coaching and eventually scouting for Major League Baseball (MLB).
Medici’s goal is to bring the best of the best to the Texas Rangers, and in the early days, he would spend more than 100 nights on the road, often working seven days per week. He’s traveled to high schools and colleges across the country, following young athletes throughout their careers, forming friendships and leaving a lasting impressions on some of the top players in MLB.
Though spring is the busiest season for Medici, the job of a scout is a year-round gig. They spend the year looking at potential prospects for the draft, and once completed, they begin looking at the following year’s list.
“The talent part is easy; you can sit and watch and see the talent, but to me, probably the most important is the makeup and character of the player,” Medici said. “What is their work ethic? Who is in their inner circle? You can tell a lot about a person based on who they hang out with. There have been athletes that were very talented but I’ve stayed away from them due to character.”
There’s a saying Medici said he stole from Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard – the talent of a player will tell you his ceiling, but his character determines his floor.
“The better the floor, the better chance you have of reaching your ceiling,” Medici said. “It’s the guys of character who stay for the long term.”
In 2023 the Texas Rangers won the World Series. Medici was on the field to see it and brought his then-10-year-old son. It was an experience neither are likely to forget.
“[My son] is not even a baseball guy and he still wants to know when we’re going back to the World Series,” Medici said. “To get there again is the hope. We had first-class treatment. There was a gala the night before with the Eli Young Band playing and my son and I held the giant U.S. flag on the field. It was an awesome ride and to be a part of that – not much can top it.”
Just weeks into the 2025 season, Medici said the Rangers have a good roster this year and he’s hopeful. The biggest derailment is injuries, so if everyone stays healthy, he thinks they have a chance of repeating their earlier success.
Knowing the players from the time they were teens or young adults creates a lifelong bond. For example, when the Rangers won the World Series, Medici received several congratulatory texts from athletes across the country.
It’s watching their success that keeps him motivated.
“The greatest part of my job is to get that call from a player, and he’s telling you he’s headed to the big leagues,” he said. “This is their dream. Ryan Borucki, pitcher for the Pirates, texted me when he first found out. I was so excited and nervous for him.”
Medici said signing an athlete means you often stay in touch from youth to retirement. You’re friends for life.
“A lot of people think scouting is watch and report,” Medici said. “You might miss talent, but my goal is to never miss on the person. Every time I see a player I’ve known since he was an amateur, I guarantee his character is off the charts.”
Despite all the experiences his career has afforded him, Medici isn’t going to scout forever.
Three years ago he launched his own baseball training program, Medici Training Center, with two locations in Brownsburg and Avon. With 250 athletes aged 8 to 17, his goal is to help players develop not only in the sport, but in character as well.
“Some of these athletes want to get on the varsity team in high school, others are going to play in college,” he said. “Ninety-three percent of them will go to college and they won’t play. They’ll go as a student and that’s perfectly fine. In the meantime, I’m looking at what I can do so they are a better human being when they leave here. Have they learned better work ethic? Have they learned how to overcome adversity? It’s the game of life in a way.”
The lines between coaching and recruiting are often blurred, because ultimately both involve looking for the best in the athlete.
Medici said he can’t believe he’s been scouting for 15 years already. He’s been to many towns across the country and enjoyed the World Series experience. Yet, he sees his future in the athletes that come to Medici Training Center.
“I’ve had an amazing scouting career but I know my future will be the training facility,” he said. “I want to build up youth baseball on the west side. My end goal and vision are to see what I can do to help kids on this side of town play to the next level.”
Visit medicibaseball.com for more information.
