Giants’ Alyssa Nakken becomes first female MLB coach on field
Posted Apr 13, 2022 7:47 am.
Last Updated Apr 13, 2022 7:50 am.
Alyssa Nakken made major league history as the first female coach on the field in a regular-season game, and the Giants pounded the San Diego Padres 13-2 on Tuesday night.
The 31-year-old Nakken entered in the third when everyday first base coach Antoan Richardson got ejected.
Taking over as tonight’s first base coach:
Alyssa Nakken ???????? pic.twitter.com/YN7vpYnu7q
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 13, 2022
When she was announced as Richardson’s replacement, Nakken was greeted with a warm ovation from the crowd at Oracle Park. She also received a congratulatory handshake from Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer.
San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said Nakken had “prepared for this moment” while working with Richardson and others.
“So it’s not a foreign spot on the field for her. She does so many other things well that aren’t seen,” he said. “So it’s nice to see her kind of be right there in the spotlight and do it on the field.”
.@SFGiants' Alyssa Nakken becomes the first woman to coach on the field in an MLB game, taking over as first-base coach tonight. https://t.co/BSeKcJk3bQ pic.twitter.com/UkG33bbDqk
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2022
Nakken, her blonde braid hanging out of her protective orange helmet, had previously coached first in spring training and during a July 2020 exhibition game at Oakland against now-Padres manager Bob Melvin when he was with the Athletics.
She then started the game at first the next night back in San Francisco.
The former Sacramento State softball star became the first female coach in the big leagues when she was hired for Kapler’s staff in January 2020. She has worked heavily on baserunning and outfield defense.
