This Journalism Major Spent His Summer Covering the Mets for Sports Illustrated's Website
Rutgers-New Brunswick senior Tommy Kelson says his internship writing about his favorite baseball team gives him “pinch me” moments
Tommy Kelson remembers the moment he became an unabashed fan of the New York Mets.
As a child, he raced down the stairs to the basement of his home to see his dad and oldest brother. On television, the Mets were playing the Houston Astros – and Carlos Beltrán was at bat for New York.
“As I walked into the room, I could hear Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen make his iconic call: ‘And Beltrán hits a deep fly ball to the right, and that ball is out of here,’” said Kelson, the youngest of four brothers. “When that ball went over the fence, something about it gave me a deep feeling, even at such a young age, that this was what I wanted to do. Baseball has always been more than a game for me.”
The Rutgers University-New Brunswick student is spending the summer as an intern for Sports Illustrated covering his favorite Major League Baseball team.
Heading into his senior year, Kelson attends the School of Communication and Information, where he is majoring in journalism and media studies with a specialization in sports journalism and a minor in digital communication, information and media.
Interested in working in sports media, the 21-year-old said he is relishing his time writing articles for the print and digital publisher of the popular sports magazine.
“Every single day it's like a pinch-me moment,” said Kelson, of Freehold Township, N.J. “I’m learning what it’s like to be working in the media and to constantly be up to speed with the latest news.”
I’m learning what it’s like to be working in the media and to constantly be up to speed with the latest news.
Tommy Kelson
Rutgers-New Brunswick student
Interning remotely for the company since mid-May, Kelson is a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated’s New York Mets On SI site, covering Brandon Nimmo’s solid performance against the New York Yankees, a preview of the MLB draft and tracking the progress of three former top prospects.
“I get to write about anything related to the Mets, whether it's game recaps, player performances, trades, prospects, or even historical moments,” said Kelson, who in August started covering the Baltimore Orioles for Sport Illustrated, too. “Basically, if it involves the Mets, I can cover it. For me personally, I like to analyze the game immediately after it ends and express how the Mets played that day. I never mind, even if the games are late at night. I'm usually up late anyway.”
Writing about sports made sense.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m the biggest baseball fanatic,” said Kelson, adding that his late father Glenn was the head of communications for an insurance company. “Once I start talking about baseball or any other sport, it’s hard to stop me. The person I talked to the most about sports was my dad. He was always my biggest role model, and maybe being around him and seeing him write had an influence on me.”
On campus, Kelson finds himself immersed in baseball, too.
Since January 2023, Kelson has been an intern for the Rutgers baseball team. As a student manager, he works in the front office, where he compiles scouting reports that combine video, statistics and insights to prepare for upcoming games. Among other tasks, Kelson breaks down the game film of opposing teams to support scouting and game planning and highlights specific player at-bat performances to identify trends and provide opponent analysis. During home games, he operates a Trackman sports ball tracking system that uses radar to collect and compile pitch data.
“Even though it's college baseball, not the major leagues, it's still a lot of moving parts,” Kelson said. “There’s so much that has to be done.”
Aside from being close to home and the affordability of in-state tuition, Kelson said he was drawn to Rutgers after attending a meeting featuring Steven Miller, a teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies for journalism and media studies.
“I was just really impressed with what he said the School of Communication and Information had to offer,” Kelson said. “That left a good impression on me and ultimately helped me decide to go there.”
“Tommy is always well-prepared and well-versed in the subject matter,” said Miller, adding that Kelson wrote an “impeccable” paper for his course, “Critical Issues in Sports Media.”
“Tommy is a great example of a student who recognizes how the skills and information they learn on College Avenue can transfer to the real world,” Miller added.
Kelson learned about the Sports Illustrated internship through Miller.
Tommy is a great example of a student who recognizes how the skills and information they learn on College Avenue can transfer to the real world.
Steven Miller
Teaching professor at Rutgers-New Brunswick
“I was taking his class, and he sends out job and internship listings to the whole school of journalism for everyone to apply to because he wants to help all of us,” said Kelson, adding that when he saw the Sports Illustrated internship listing “I was freaking out because, oh my god, this is the dream job.”
Miller said Kelson “was able to gain valuable experience at one of the iconic names in the business and was given the opportunity to cover a Major League Baseball team. There aren’t many students who can acquire such a high-level and important placement.”
When not interning or studying, Kelson said he enjoys hanging out with friends, catching movies and watching sports.
“My whole life, all I've ever wanted do was to work in baseball,” said Kelson. “That's really been my end goal because that’s been my biggest passion. Baseball isn’t just a game to me – it’s a part of who I am.”
