(March 31, 2011) The job market is frequently as much about whom you know as what you know. For Aaron Oster, the ‘who he knows’ has led to his first job in affiliated minor league baseball. An STAA client, Oster has been hired as the No. 2 broadcaster for the Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves, Class-A).
The Hillcats opportunity came suddenly to Oster and developed quickly. The chain of events started when veteran Hillcats broadcaster Scott Bacon accepted a position with Longwood University. That led to the promotion of Erik Wilson, who the Hillcats had hired earlier this off-season to be their No. 2 broadcaster. Oster was recommended to replace Wilson by Frederick Keys announcer and mutual friend Adam Pohl.
Oster first learned he was being considered for the position when one of his references told Oster the Hillcats had contacted him.
“I got excited,” Oster recalls. “I figured if they were contacting my references even before contacting me, I must have at least a decent shot.”
The Hillcats contacted Oster on Friday March 25th. He interviewed by phone on Monday, did a second phone interview Tuesday morning and was offered the position later that day.
“It was really a mixture of good connections and dumb luck,” Oster smiles.
Oster moves to the Hillcats after spending last summer with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.
“It’s my fist chance in affiliated ball,” says Oster. “While I’ve done college and independent ball, as far as the minors go, affiliated is one of the big hurdles you have to clear. It’s what I’ve been wanting for the past year.”