A man in a black baseball cap and sunglasses stands with a costumed character with a baseball head. Blue sky and a baseball field is reflected in the window behind them.

One of the best parts of summer for me is baseball. I look forward to time with family and friends enjoying a game (and maybe a hot dog or two) together. For me, baseball is more than just a game. When I was a child, it offered a way for me to build connections with peers and develop a leadership style that I still use today.

When I started playing at age 9, I was bigger than my teammates and known more for my academic ability than athleticism. Baseball invited me to bring my brain onto the field as I learned that the catcher needed to be the knowingest player, guiding the pitcher, predicting the next play, and directing the fielders to appropriate positions. As a catcher you need to be aggressive in the best sense—not a loudmouth who is hard to get along with, but someone who is out to win, able to keep the other players on their toes, ready to get into every play, and full of energy on the field. 

Out to win. Keep others on their toes. Full of energy. 

I learned this in baseball, but I’ve applied it in so many other aspects of my life including, crucially, in the lab. Just as the catcher helps his teammates adjust to each new batter and prepare to work together to get the out, a PI guides lab members to deploy their individual skills and knowledge as they work together to solve a scientific problem. 

And just as baseball can go for long stretches without dramatic action, so too, in the lab it might sometimes feel like a long slog with no payoff. But a breakthrough can come at any moment, and the anticipation is part of the fun! We stay on our toes, eyes scanning, and when the pieces come together, we’re ready to make the big play and celebrate the team effort.

A young child wearing a baseball cap and Twins jersey holds out a baseball while standing in the stadium with the baseball field behind him.

I hope many of you will join us to celebrate our INI team completing another successful academic year on Sunday, June 7, at the Cedar Rapids Kernels baseball game. RSVP here. Whether you’re a casual follower or an avid fan, you’ll find friends and colleagues in the Grand Slam Suite ready to connect and build community together—and catch some foul balls!

Ted

May 2026