Podcast Episode 8 – Yeshayah Goldfarb – San Francisco Giants

In our eighth episode of the Sport Analytics Podcast, host Amrit Vignesh sits down with Yeshayah Goldfarb, the former Vice President of Baseball Operations and Baseball Resources & Development for the San Francisco Giants. Over a remarkable 24-year tenure—and three World Series rings—Yeshayah rose from intern to executive, pioneering new analytics systems, spearheading player development programs, and championing flat leadership to unify scouts, coaches, and data teams.

Yeshayah shares how he integrated emerging technologies (like Hawk-Eye), leveraged minor-league free agents to build championship roster depth, and built strong rapport with both front-office and on-field staff. Whether you’re curious about scouting international prospects in Venezuela or managing a multimillion-dollar MLB roster, this episode explores the daily hustle, strategic foresight, and passion that powered one of baseball’s most successful front offices in recent history.

🔔 Subscribe to our channel for more episodes featuring leaders in sports analytics, career insights, and technical deep-dives!
📧 For inquiries or collaborations, contact Dave Yount at dave@sportanalytics.com.

Amrit (Host): Welcome to the eighth episode of the Sport Analytics Podcast. Today, we’re joined by Yeshayah Goldfarb, who is the former Vice President of Baseball Operations and Baseball Resources & Development for the San Francisco Giants. Yeshayah, how are you doing?

Yeshayah: I’m doing great. Thanks for having me, Amrit.

Amrit (Host): Over a remarkable 24-year tenure with the Giants, you rose from intern to executive, contributing to three World Series titles. You’ve been instrumental in player development, analytics innovations, and roster construction. Let’s start with how you got into baseball operations. Could you describe your path from UC San Diego to landing that Giants internship, and what inspired you to pursue a career in MLB?

Yeshayah: Sure. I grew up in the Bay Area, played at UC San Diego, and senior year realized I couldn’t keep playing but wanted to stay in the game. I sent resumes out, networked around—my dad knew a sportswriter, I talked to some folks, and after a brief conversation with Giants scouting, they hired me as an intern. This was pre-Moneyball, so analytics departments weren’t really a thing yet, but I did a bit of everything: data entry, video coordinating, anything that taught me more about the game. That “do whatever” mindset is what kept me moving forward.

Amrit (Host): You progressed from intern to roles in Baseball Operations, eventually reaching VP. Which milestones shaped your leadership approach and strategic view?

Yeshayah: Promotions were never my focus—I just kept taking on responsibilities. But one core belief I developed is “flat leadership”—everyone can affect winning, from a Double-A clubhouse manager to an intern. You empower every role by showing them how they fit the bigger mission. Strategically, I kept a list of ideas after each season or event (like draft, trade deadline), then revisited them the next year. That continuous improvement loop drove me to propose projects like personalized player development plans in 2008, or new scouting integration processes.

Amrit (Host): Moneyball changed how MLB teams view data. How did you integrate advanced analytics with traditional scouting at the Giants, and was there resistance from coaches or scouts?

Yeshayah: Surprisingly, it was quite smooth. I built strong relationships, listened to their needs, and offered data in ways that addressed them. For example, in our draft room, scouts like Dick Tidrow wanted my input on pitchers. I’d combine scouting insights and data-driven profiles. We never forced numbers without context; we explained the “why” and “how,” and that mutual respect led to buy-in. We also let them guide the questions and let analytics fill in the gaps rather than override their expertise.

Amrit (Host): Minor-league free agents like Gregor Blanco and Yusmeiro Petit were crucial to championship depth. How did analytics guide you to pick up those lesser-known players?

Yeshayah: For Blanco, a scout believed he could be an everyday center fielder, while data showed great strike-zone control despite a low batting average. That combination signaled an undervalued skill set. For Petit, I was scanning winter-league stats and saw his high K-to-BB ratio. Simultaneously, a Venezuelan staffer flagged him. Each was a synergy of scouting plus data revealing hidden value. They ended up key contributors in our title runs.

Amrit (Host): You also managed budgets for analytics, player development, and tech. How did you prioritize spending to maximize on-field success within the Giants’ constraints?

Yeshayah: The Giants were open to investments if we made a solid case—being a first mover on good tech can yield competitive advantages. For example, we installed Hawkeye in multiple minor-league parks early on. It was costly and had kinks, but we believed in its long-term payoff. The bigger challenge was that new tech sometimes emerges mid-year, so we needed flexibility. And if we trusted the data or system could help us, ownership typically backed it.

Amrit (Host): Across 24 years, you saw both losing seasons and championship highs. What were the toughest challenges, and which rewards stand out most?

Yeshayah: Losing is always hard. We never did a full rebuild, so transitional seasons were tough—like post-Bonds, or when our core aged. The best memories are definitely the World Series wins. Seeing guys like Vogelsong, Posey, or Sandoval—a collective effort of scouts, coaches, trainers—reach that pinnacle is incredible. You appreciate the entire ecosystem, from a Venezuelan area scout to the analytics intern. Everyone had a piece in those wins, and that sense of collective achievement is priceless.

Amrit (Host): MLB analytics is rapidly evolving with advanced tracking and AI. Where do you see it heading in the next 5–10 years, especially for player dev and roster management?

Yeshayah: More biomechanics, particularly on hitting. Teams are racing to interpret the massive Hawkeye data on swings. Also, as systems become cheaper, you’ll see advanced data at high schools or abroad, so prospects might have robust profiles at 15. The trick is leveraging that info responsibly. We’ll keep pushing the cutting edge in technology while still relying on human insights.

Amrit (Host): Finally, any advice for aspiring analysts on core skills or mindsets to succeed in a modern MLB front office?

Yeshayah: Keep learning. No permission required—scout your local college team, make your own database projects. Skills like R/Python/SQL are standard, but also focus on communication and empathy. If you want to scout, show it via real evaluations. And for baseball specifically, Spanish is a huge plus since so many players and staff come from Latin America. That ability to connect can make all the difference.

Amrit (Host): Thanks so much, Yeshayah, for your insights into leadership, analytics, and building World Series rosters. We really appreciate you sharing your experiences.

Yeshayah: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.