Alyssa Nakken is no stranger to making history.
On July 20, 2020, Nakken took her place on the Giants’ first base coaching cadre in the late innings of an exhibition game against the A’s, becoming the first woman to coach on the field in league history. MLB.
On April 12, 2022, she did it again, this time becoming the first woman in MLB history to coach on the field in a regular season game when she replaced Antoan Richardson at first base after he was ejected. .
The moment history was made. Congratulations, Alyssa Nakken 👏 pic.twitter.com/pzW7NKHTwb
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 13, 2022
Some things are worth the wait: Nakken was named to the Giants’ coaching staff in January 2020, though she wouldn’t officially see the field until the Giants-Padres matchup on Tuesday night.
Here’s what you need to know about the roof-shattering Nakken:
Who is Alyssa Nakken?
Nakken, hired to the Giants coaching staff in January 2020, became the first woman to be named a coach on an MLB coaching staff. While her official title is assistant coach, Nakken did get a chance to coach first base for a few innings during the Giants’ final exhibition game against the A’s on July 20, 2020.
Holding down the first base box isn’t something Nakken doesn’t know about: She’s coached there during intersquad games before the last few seasons and works closely with Richardson, overseeing the outfield and baserunning instruction.
After taking the field on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, Nakken became the first woman to coach on the field during a regular season game at the Major League level.
Alyssa Nakken knows the meaning of this moment tonight for all to see that girls, women can do anything. pic.twitter.com/sW5W0pcVYx
— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) April 13, 2022
“I think people can see, not just women, but young men, girls, women, everyone can see there’s a lot of opportunity in baseball,” he said after the game. “Not just in baseball. I think sometimes we just think about what we could do, at least that’s my experience. I never thought I could do something like that.”
Before Nakken joined the Giants’ coaching staff, he worked in San Francisco’s baseball operations department for six years, helping with the team’s health and wellness programs, and held a multitude of front office roles. . He earned a master’s degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco in 2015.
Nakken is also a highly touted athlete in her own right. A three-sport star in high school, Nakken was named to the Pacific Coast Softball Conference team all four years during her stint at Sacramento State, with a first-team nod in 2009. During her time as Hornet, she hit .304 with 19 home runs at first base.
“I feel a great sense of responsibility”, Nakken said in February 2020 (via MLB.com). “Coach, I never saw it. This job has been hidden for so long. I’m very excited to be in this role because of the challenge and the opportunity to make an impact in this organization that I love.”
“But I’m also excited that now girls can see there’s a job on the baseball field. It’s really cool.”
Nakken is leading a women’s revolution in baseball, including Yankees minor league manager Rachel Balkovec, Cubs hitting coach Rachel Folden and former Cardinals minor league coach Tina Whitlock.
Reference-www.sportingnews.com