CLEVELAND (AP) — In a significant move, Alyssa Nakken, renowned for being the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game, is leaving her role with the San Francisco Giants to take on a new position with the Cleveland Guardians.
Alyssa Nakken made headlines in 2022 when she stepped in as the first-base coach after a game ejection, making her mark in baseball history. A former standout softball player at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was elevated to manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the first full-time female coach in the major leagues.
As she transitions to the Guardians, Nakken has been appointed as an assistant director within their player development division. The Guardians, who claimed the AL Central title last season under the leadership of Stephen Vogt, the AL Manager of the Year, are excited about her addition.
In her new role, the 34-year-old Nakken will collaborate closely with former Giants coaches, Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. “Nak is a systematic executor of processes and a thoughtful communicator,” Correa noted in a text message. “Her unique experiences and skill set make her an ideal fit for our player development system. I’m eager to work alongside her again.”
While Nakken’s specific responsibilities are still being finalized, it’s worth mentioning that she recently became a first-time mother, welcoming her daughter Austyn earlier this year. Consequently, she didn’t travel full-time with manager Bob Melvin’s team.
The Giants expressed their gratitude to Nakken for her significant contributions, stating, “We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible work with the San Francisco Giants and for paving the way for women in sports. Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired numerous individuals, and her influence has been transformative for both the Giants organization and the broader baseball community.”
As Nakken embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, the Giants wish her and her family all the best, confident that she will continue to inspire others and achieve great success.
Nakken is not the only female coach to join the Guardians’ ranks; they also brought on board Amanda Kamekona in 2023 as their hitting development coach for the training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Kamekona previously served as an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron and had a noteworthy collegiate career at UCLA, where she was a two-time third-team All-American.
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AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
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