Andrew Hill, a recent mechanical engineering master's graduate, is currently leveraging his technical expertise as an Applied Biomechanics Fellow for the Kansas City Royals for the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season.
Hill’s journey into the specialized world of sports science began when he discovered the human movement biomechanics minor during his undergraduate years at UD. This discovery marked a pivotal shift in his career trajectory.
“I remember learning about some of the potential career paths in the field, and two that really stood out to me at the time were prosthetics and sports equipment design,” Hill said. “That was the first time I realized I could realistically combine my passions for sports and engineering into a career pathway.”
Through his coursework, Hill mastered a wide range of technical skills, including motion capture analysis, data visualization, biomechanics-focused modeling and proficiencies in multiple coding programs.
Hill’s expertise is rooted in impactful clinical research. For two years, he has been a key contributor to UD’s EMPOWER Lab, conducting biomechanical research under the advisement of Dr. Megan Reissman. This work focuses on the clinical application of movement science, utilizing virtual reality to assist individuals with spinal cord injuries.
“Our study focuses on analyzing the biomechanics of movement in a clinical sense,” Hill said. “We use virtual reality headsets to allow participants with spinal cord injuries to engage in VR games as a form of physical rehabilitation. Through the games we develop, we are able to collect and analyze biomechanical data on how they move, ultimately using those insights to help them progress more efficiently through their rehabilitation process.”
This experience in translating complex data into life-changing physical outcomes served as a precursor to his current work in professional sports.
By focusing his academic interests directly on sports biomechanics, Hill developed a deep fluency in baseball-specific biomechanical terminology, movement patterns and performance norms. This academic rigor ensured he was entering the workforce with an engineering degree and with a specialized lens tailored for the sports industry.
This intersection led Hill to secure a prestigious fellowship with the Kansas City Royals. In the fast-paced environment of the MLB, he has found that his ability to pivot and apply his academic training to real-world scenarios is his greatest asset.
“The specific demands of any job will always require learning something new, so having a strong foundation across multiple tools and concepts and knowing how to adapt those skills to a new environment has been the most valuable preparation for my role so far,” Hill said.
Now, Hill works at the intersection of data and player development.
“One of the coolest aspects of working in an MLB environment is that the day-to-day responsibilities are constantly changing, no two days are ever really the same,” Hill said. “Our department analyzes and visualizes data collected from stadium motion-capture systems and turns those analyses into reports and actionable insights that coaches can use to help players stay healthy and continue developing.”
Currently, Hill is leading a project that translates complex physics into coaching tools. He is creating data-driven visualizations of the rotational planes pitchers move through during their throwing motions, providing a level of insight that helps bridge the gap between raw data and on-field execution.
Hill’s success was a result of both academic excellence and proactive networking. Once he identified his ideal role, he used LinkedIn to reach out to numerous MLB biomechanists. While only a few responded, the insights he gained from those conversations provided a significant advantage during the interview process.
Reflecting on his path from the classroom to the MLB, Hill encourages fellow students to seek out the unique overlaps in their own interests.
“Try to figure out where your passions lie and then find the intersections between those interests and your field of study,” Hill said. “The opportunities are endless if you’re willing to think outside the box and do your own research. There are far more career paths than people realize; your dream job is out there, the hard part is just knowing where to look.”
