Baseball has always been more than a game for me — it’s been a way to bond with my son. We’ve sat in the bleachers, shared hot dogs, and broken down every pitch and play together. And along the way, I realized: baseball is a living metaphor for project management.
A nine-inning game, full of twists and adjustments, looks a lot like guiding a project through Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring, and Closing. Each inning is a phase. Each player is a stakeholder. Each unexpected curveball is a reminder of risk and change.
Let’s step onto the diamond and break down the PMP lessons baseball has to teach.
Every project begins with Initiating.
In baseball, this is the opening pitch, the national anthem, the team taking the field. Potential is everywhere, but nothing has happened yet.
In projects, this means identifying stakeholders, setting objectives, and clarifying the vision. You don’t know the score, but you know why you’re here.
Each inning in baseball mirrors the process groups in project management:
- Planning: Managers set the lineup. Pitchers review signals. Players position themselves.
- Executing: The pitch is thrown, and the action unfolds.
- Monitoring & Controlling: Coaches watch closely — is the pitcher tiring, do we need a pinch hitter, is it time to adjust strategy?
- Closing: The inning ends. Stats are recorded, lessons noted, and the next inning begins.
Baseball, like project management, is iterative. You adjust inning by inning, deliverable by deliverable.
Baseball makes it easy to see stakeholder roles in action:
- The manager = project manager. They don’t swing the bat, but they set direction and make calls.
- The pitcher = technical lead. They carry responsibility but rely on the team’s support.
- The catcher = communications management. They see the whole field and keep everyone aligned.
- The fielders = functional team members. Each has a defined role but must adapt when the ball comes their way.
- The fans = external stakeholders. They don’t play, but their support impacts the entire outcome.
No one wins alone. Success comes when every role plays its part.
No baseball game goes exactly as planned. Injuries, weather delays, and surprise strategies all test resilience.
That’s risk management in action. Projects face the same curveballs — scope changes, resource shifts, unforeseen issues.
The best teams aren’t the ones that never face adversity. They’re the ones that adapt quickly when things change.
You can’t win a baseball game in the first inning.
Likewise, you can’t deliver a project all at once. Success comes in phases. You take it inning by inning, sprint by sprint, deliverable by deliverable.
That’s iterative planning — recalibrating as the game unfolds, not locking into a rigid plan that ignores reality.
Every project — and every baseball game — must end.
When the last out is made, stats are logged, lessons are captured, and the team reviews what worked and what didn’t. That’s lessons learned and benefits realization.
Closing matters because it sets you up for the next project, the next season, the next at-bat.
- Every inning is a phase. Plan, execute, monitor, and close — over and over.
- Stakeholders matter. From players to fans, every role impacts success.
- Expect curveballs. Strong teams prepare for uncertainty.
- Iterative planning wins. One inning, one deliverable at a time.
- Close strong. Capture lessons and improve next time.
Baseball has been a way for me to connect with my son — and in the process, it’s taught me a lot about project management.
Success isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence, focus, and adaptability.
When the last out is made, the best teams — and the best project managers — don’t just celebrate or mourn. They learn, they prepare, and they come back stronger for the next game.
👉 Want more relatable PMP lessons? Check out the podcast episode: Project Management Lessons from a Baseball Game.
