'I grew up around sports': Astros' Goodrum has a lifelong love of the game

The Houston Astros have a new player development director in Sara Goodrum, a worker who describes her new position as not just a job, but a continuation of a lifelong dream.

“I was always exposed to seeing women in sports, and I think that that's been such a huge driving factor of me being able to have confidence and belief [that] this is normal for me, because I grew up around sports,” Goodrum said in a report on mlb.com. 

When she thinks back on her childhood, she recalls times where she would park herself in front of the family television to watch games. Every so often, she told mlb.com, she would see a female sports broadcaster, and that was the start of  her dream in life.

“I love sports,” she said. "This is the industry I want to work in, so the more exposure, the better. It's exciting to continue to see growth in that area.” 

Goodrum graduated from the University of Oregon where she was a star on the softball diamond. During her collegiate career, the Ducks were climbing the ladder of success on the football field, too, the Houston Chronicle reported. That provided her with the opportunity to get to know people and the ins and outs of live sports broadcasts as college football sportscasts were in town more often.

She was hired as the Astros director of player development last month is now one of baseball's highest-ranking women executives. Before coming to Houston, she worked in the front office of the Milwaukee Brewers. Goodrum will report to assistant general manager for player development Pete Putila, the mlb.com report said.