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Rachel Balkovec Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire

First female MiLB manager Rachel Balkovec: 'I want to be a visible idea for young women'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/12/22

On Wednesday, groundbreaking minor league baseball manager Rachel Balkovec held her first press conference since being hired by the New York Yankees' Low-A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. During the 55-minute talk — which was conducted virtually — Balkovec discussed what the historic hire meant to her and what her journey to the managerial position was like.

"If you know yourself and you know where you came from, it doesn't really matter. That's how I deal with the negativity...it's hilarious to me because it's the American dream." New Yankees Low A Manager Rachel Balkovec, first female manager in affiliated baseball.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) January 12, 2022

Rachel Balkovec on being a role model as well as a coach/manager: “I want to be a visible idea for young women. I want to be a visible idea for dads who have daughters. I want to be out there. I have two jobs, and that’s fine."
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) January 12, 2022

The 34-year-old began her coaching career in 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals' Johnson City, Tenn., minor-league affiliate as a strength and conditioning coach on a temporary contract. Balkovec earned the Appalachian League's award for Strength Coach of the Year and was hired full-time for the position in 2014, becoming the first woman to hold that title.

Balkovec was hired as the Houston Astros' Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator in 2016, becoming the first woman to hold that role in MLB history as well. In 2018, she became the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks' strength and conditioning coach before moving to and working in the Netherlands as an assistant hitting coach in both baseball and softball and eventually joining the Yankees' minor-league system as a hitting coach in 2019.

"There were many times in my career when I felt extremely lonely...now, I've got 100 women that are out there in various roles that are having similar experiences and it feels incredible to have that kind of support from people who understand that path."
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) January 12, 2022

The former backstop for both the University of New Mexico and Creighton softball programs said one of the best moments over the last few days was when she was congratulated by the iconic women's tennis player Billie Jean King.

"OK, I can die now. Billie Jean King congratulated me," Balkovec said, per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said of Balkovec's hire:

"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I congratulate Rachel on this historic milestone. As manager of the Tampa Tarpons, she will continue to demonstrate her expertise and leadership in the Yankees' organization. We wish Rachel well in this new capacity and appreciate her mentorship to the growing network of women in baseball operations and player development roles.

"When Kim Ng was hired as the General Manager of the Marlins prior to the 2021 season, it was a meaningful step forward. I am pleased to see the game continue to make important progress at various levels. Major League Baseball is committed to providing a supportive environment for women and girls to pursue our sport as players, coaches, umpires and executives. We are proud of Rachel, new Director of Player Development Sara Goodrum of the Astros and all the women across our sport who are setting a positive example for our next generation of fans and proving, on and off the field, that Baseball is a game for everyone."

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