Founded in 2016, the Michigan Society for American Baseball Research, run on-campus at the University of Michigan, is one of just two SABR-affiliated university clubs in the entire world. Our website features research articles, analysis pieces, satire, and more.
Our M-SABR Staff:
Co-President – Zane Harding
Zane Harding is a junior double-majoring in Statistics and English. Zane is a co-founder of the club, as he launched the club’s website in October 2016 as a freshman, then ran the club’s publication for a year. As Co-President, Zane oversees the club’s publication and research projects, develops projects such as Season Previews and Recaps and the M-SABR Podcast, and he prepares and runs club meetings. In his spare time, Zane enjoys writing for the M-SABR website and for SB Nation’s Bless You Boys. Residing from Waterford, Michigan, Zane is an avid Detroit and Michigan sports fan.
How to contact Zane:
Email: zharding@umich.edu
Twitter: @zaneaharding
Co-President – Max Smith
Max Smith is a junior majoring in Industrial and Operations Engineering and a member of the Engineering Global Leadership Honors Program. As Co-President, he runs the club alongside Zane, overseeing the club’s branches, managing day-to-day operations of the club, and coordinating with affiliated groups (such as WCBN Radio, SABR, and the Michigan Sports Analytics Society). As a freshman, he was Editor-in-Chief, working with the authors of M-SABR pieces to ensure high-quality writing and solid statistical reasoning and arguments. Living in Frankfurt, Germany, he officially holds the title of Europe’s, and now Michigan’s, biggest Washington Nationals fan.
How to Contact Max:
Email: rmaxsm@umich.edu
Twitter: @maxsmith_16
Vice President – Cam Cain
Cam Cain is a junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Statistics. As Vice President, Cam leads the club’s Website and Content branch, ensuring the club has a steady flow of new content all while running the M-SABR website, while supporting Zane and Max in various major club endeavors. He specializes in articles using OOTP simulations, as well as other analytical articles. Cam is from Salem, New Hampshire, and his favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds.
How to Contact Cam:
Email: camly@umich.edu
Twitter: @BAMitsCam75
Treasurer – Matthew Kikkert
Matthew Kikkert is a junior majoring in Business, minoring in Economics, and has a strong interest in investments. As the club’s Treasurer, he works with the University of Michigan on funding and spending matters, while also managing the club budget. Matthew is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his favorite team is the Detroit Tigers.
How to Contact Matthew:
Email: mkikkert@umich.edu
Twitter: @mkikkert97
Managing Editor – Ambria Hopfe
Ambria Hopfe is a junior majoring in Chemical Engineering. As a Managing Editor, she directs and refines the content published on the M-SABR website. She is from Farmington Hills, Michigan. But, with family ties in Massachusetts, her allegiance is to the one and only Boston Red Sox.
How to Contact Ambria:
Email: hopfeamb@umich.edu
Managing Editor and Writer – Max Brill
Max Brill is a sophomore in the Ross School of Business. He is particularly interested in the ins and outs of award voting and frequently writes on the Hall of Fame, All-Star Game selections, and the MVP, ROY, and Cy Young races. Max was born and raised in the greatest city in the world, New York City, and is a die-hard Mets fan. He is the creator of Musings of a Baseball Addict.
How to contact Max:
Email: maxbrill@umich.edu
Twitter: @metsfanmax
Managing Editor and Social Chair – Sahil Shah
Sahil Shah is a senior majoring in political science. He is a diehard fan of the Orioles (unfortunately) and an unabashed Christian Yelich lover. Sahil is from Baltimore, Maryland, and will be taking his talents to law school in the fall.
How to contact Sahil:
Email: sahilps@umich.edu
Research Manager – Duncan Wallis
Duncan Wallis is a sophomore majoring in Sport Management with interests in business and analytics. As a Research Manager and Featured Writer, Duncan is responsible for leading bigger group projects and also putting out consistently high-level content. He is most enthusiastic about looking at the business of player contracts, free agency, prospects, and analytics of players to re-evaluate player worth. He is from Kalamazoo, Michigan and his favorite MLB team is the Chicago Cubs.
How to Contact Duncan:
Email: dgwallis@umich.edu
Twitter: @DuncanWallis13
Social Media Officer – Gregory Severin
Gregory is a sophomore majoring in Political Science and thinking about adding a minor in Spanish. As the Social Media Officer, he is responsible for ensuring that M-SABR’s articles are publicized on social media. If you particularly appreciate something @michigansabr tweeted, you probably have Gregory to thank. Although he now lives in Newton, Massachusetts, Gregory’s baseball allegiances unfortunately lie with his hometown team, the Seattle Mariners.
How to contact Gregory:
Email: gseverin@umich.edu
Twitter: @TheTridentM
Graduate Research Advisor – Kyle Kumbier
Kyle is a 2nd-year Master’s student going for an advanced degree in Biostatistics. He completed his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a double major in Electrical Engineering and Math. The transition from engineering to statistics is certainly a strange one, but baseball had a lot to do with it. As a research advisor of M-SABR, Kyle is sharing his experience in conducting statistical baseball research (see “Enhancing the Quality Start”) as well as programming in R. Kyle is originally from Neenah, Wisconsin and a lifetime Brewer fan.
How to contact Kyle:
Email: kkumbier@umich.edu
Graduate Research Advisor – Ryan Pinheiro
Ryan is a doctoral student pursuing his PhD in Sport Management. Prior to his time at Michigan, he attended the University of Akron where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Applied Mathematics. Ryan also spent three years working in industry at American Greetings in Cleveland, Ohio as a statistical analyst. His current research interests include sport economics and analytics. Ryan’s role in M-SABR is to help and guide undergraduate students as they pursue their own research in baseball. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Ryan is a diehard Tribe fan.
How to contact Ryan:
Email: rxp@umich.edu
Director of Professional Development – Felipe Zwanzger
Felipe is a junior majoring in Economics with a minor in Sustainability. Felipe seeks to become the first Chilean-American to work in a Major League front office, either in a baseball operations or player development department. As Director of Professional Development, Felipe is in charge of assisting, preparing, and guiding our members to intern and eventually work in the baseball industry. Born in Santiago, Chile and raised in Miami, Florida, Felipe is an avid Miami Marlins fan.
How to Contact Felipe:
Email: zwanzger@umich.edu
Twitter: @fzwanzger9
Technical Manager – Erik McKeen
Erik McKeen is a junior majoring in Data Science. As Technical Manager, he keeps the website up to date and performs design updates as needed. He also helps write articles for the site. Erik is from Lake Orion, Michigan, and he is a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan.
How to Contact Erik:
Email: emckeen@umich.edu
Twitter: @erikm56
Financial Officer – Daniel Korach
Daniel Korach is a freshman studying engineering, with a unique passion for the industry, game, and analysis of baseball. As financial officer, he assists the treasurer and other officers with club funds and resource allocation. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and will be a White Sox fan until the day he dies.
How to contact Daniel:
Email: dkorach@umich.edu
Twitter:@dk22800
Marketing Officer – Jared Wolff
Jared Wolff is a junior majoring in Sport Management. As Marketing Officer, he organizes the social media for the site and spreads the M-SABR content to a wide audience. He gained meaningful marketing experience this past summer as an intern for Roc Nation Sports. Jared also contributes as a writer for the site. He is from East Hampton, NY, and is a die-hard New York Mets fan.
How to contact Jared:
Email: jarwolff@umich.edu
Twitter:@jaredwolff4
