Phillies exec paving the way for minorities in PR role

Among the various actions that happen on the Baseball Winter Meetings yearly is an awards ceremony that honors public relations excellence. In San Diego final December, the Robert O. Fishel Award — named after the longtime baseball govt who received the primary award in 1981 — went to Kevin Gregg, the Phillies’ vice chairman of communications.

Gregg grew to become the second African American govt to win the award (Astros communications VP Gene Dias was the primary, in 2017). During an interview with MLB.com, celebrating this Black History Month, Gregg mirrored on the second when he came upon he was the recipient of the distinguished award.

“From all the people I talked to that knew Bob Fishel, it was very humbling to be mentioned in the same sentence with him,” Gregg mentioned. “It meant the world to me because the job can be very thankless, very difficult. We work a lot of hours, but it’s a vital job and it’s important work. Anytime you can be recognized for being a small part of the team or just contributing, it goes a long way.”    

It could possibly be mentioned Gregg was born into baseball. His late father, Eric Gregg, was an umpire from 1975-99. Gregg handed away 16 years earlier than his son received the distinguished Fishel award, however the latter feels his dad is with him in spirit.  

“I think he would have been thrilled,” Gregg mentioned. “Moreso than the award, I followed in his footsteps by having a career in baseball. That’s where it all comes from. I love baseball because he loved the sport. Being exposed to baseball at a young age, that’s paramount to me in what I’ve done in my life. That’s all I ever wanted to do.”     

Prior to becoming a member of the Phillies in 2022, the workforce that first employed him as an intern in 2003, Gregg was the top of the PR employees for the Red Sox, from 2013-21. He was the primary African American to carry that place for Boston.  

Like the Red Sox, the Phillies are a high-profile workforce that generates an excessive amount of media consideration, and it’s as much as the top of the public-relations employees to deal with the each day calls for that accompany working for a large-market workforce. In his first season with the Phillies, Gregg didn’t flinch — even after his workforce marched all the best way to the National League pennant.  

Gregg is all the time organized and prepared for the media when there’s breaking news. Whether he was establishing a gathering between Bryce Harper and the native reporters who wished the most recent on Harper’s injured left thumb, or informing the media of supervisor Joe Girardi’s dismissal, Gregg was liable for ensuring these news objects had been dealt with correctly and professionally. 

That prolonged into the postseason, when the Phillies superior to the World Series earlier than shedding in six video games to the Astros. Gregg  was cool, calm and picked up throughout their run in October and early November, establishing interviews between the media and members of the workforce.   

“I understand the fact that the media has a job to do, whether we agree with what’s being reported or how it’s being reported,” Gregg mentioned. “It’s simply figuring out that we’re all on this collectively. We have a very fashionable product in baseball and individually with the Phillies, and followers care about baseball and the Phillies.  

“I try to pride myself on reporters doing their jobs, but there is a fine line for us to walk to where we need to make sure that we are allowing our players and staff to operate the way they need to operate in order for [them] to be successful, too. It is very often that our interests [team and media] are not aligned. It’s a difficult line to walk at times. It’s just understanding that you need to be professional. Reporters and media have a job to do, but we have a job to do as well.” 

A revered govt lengthy earlier than he was formally acknowledged with the Fishel Award honors, Gregg will also be thought-about a pioneer in his discipline. Though there was progress in recent times, Gregg wish to see extra African American individuals in baseball public relations.  

“I look at it as a responsibility of mine to show young men and women of color that there is a place for them as an executive in Major League Baseball,” Gregg mentioned. “My field — media relations or public relations — is severely underrepresented. So it’s great that I was given the Robert O. Fishel Award so that young people can see someone who looks like them.  … Yeah, it’s a big deal.”