Alyssa Nakken: ‘A huge step’ for women, and other observations about the SF Giants coach

San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken walked to the first base coaching box April 12 and into Major League Baseball history.

What she did was routine. She took over for regular first base coach Antoan Richardson, who was ejected in the third inning. What her presence meant was not – she became the first woman to coach a regular season MLB game.

Even though the game was subsequently swamped with other stories about racism and unwritten rules, her break-through broke through. Her helmet is now on its way to Cooperstown.

Here are some observations:

NPR: Tuesday night was a step forward for the league as it continues its push at diversification.

Nakken’s milestone comes just three months after the New York Yankees made history by hiring the minor leagues’ first female manager, Rachel Balkovec, who made her managerial debut last week with the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate in Tampa.

For years, the MLB has sought to diversify the league’s on-field and operations positions by introducing programs such as its diversity pipeline and a diversity fellowship program.

And while it takes time for such programs to bear fruit, the league no doubt sees these as encouraging signs.

Mercury News: “I woke up this morning, read all of the quotes from inspired women — pretty far-reaching — and received a lot of commentary about how important it was for women in this city to see that happen,” (Giants manager Gabe) Kapler said before the Giants’ game Wednesday against the Padres. “In hindsight, I recognize how huge of a moment that was for our staff, our players, Alyssa, all of our fans and everybody around the world. It was huge.”

The initial understated reaction from Kapler signals how far the game has come and how integrated Nakken is on the Giants coaching staff. But the fact that Nakken only became the first in 2022 also signals how far it has to go when it comes to equal opportunities for women in a sport that for its entire existence has been dominated by men.

New York Times: Nakken’s ascent through the Giants’ ranks is part of a growing trend of women earning larger roles in the game. In the past few months, Rachel Balkovec of the Tampa Tarpons, a Yankees farm team, became the first woman to manage a team in affiliated baseball; Genevieve Beacom, a 17-year-old pitcher, began playing professionally in Australia; and Kelsie Whitmore, a 23-year-old pitcher, signed a contract to play with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Last year, Kim Ng became the first woman to lead an M.L.B. team’s front office as its general manager.

Sacramento State: Last night, Alyssa Nakken became the first female coach to make an on-field appearance during a

@MLB game.The former @SacStSoftball captain was the recipient of the 2020 Rising Star Distinguished Alumni Award. Well done, Alyssa!

Associated Press: From Day One with the Giants, Nakken embraced her role as an example for girls and women that they can do anything. “It’s a big deal,” she said. “I feel a great sense of responsibility and I feel it’s my job to honor those who have helped me to where I am.”

People: Alyssa Nakken took a huge step for women in sports on Tuesday night.

The Athletic: Although this is her third season on Kapler’s staff, the only other time Nakken appeared in an on-field capacity in a major-league ballpark was in an exhibition game in 2020 when the result didn’t matter and the stadium was empty. Her hiring helped to usher in an expansion of coaching and management opportunities for women within the industry.