Sports

Actions

San Francisco Giants reportedly eyeing female coach for manager job

Alyssa Nakken, a former college softball player, got her start with the Giants as an intern in 2014.
San Francisco Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken
Posted at 2:53 PM, Oct 16, 2023

Alyssa Nakken could make more history in Major League Baseball. 

The assistant coach with the San Francisco Giants has interviewed to become the team's manager, according to The Athletic

The publication reports that Nakken sat for a formal first-round interview last week. 

If she's hired, Nakken would be the first female manager in the MLB. She's already the first woman to be part of an MLB coaching staff on a full-time basis.

She was hired as an assistant coach by former Giants manager Gabe Kapler in 2020. Kapler was fired on Sept. 29, days after the team was eliminated from playoff contention. 

MLB playoffs: Phillies topple Braves to reach NL Championship Series
The Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after Game 4 of the NL Division Series.

MLB playoffs: Phillies topple Braves to reach NL Championship Series

Philadelphia will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS, while the Houston Astros play their in-state rival Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

LEARN MORE

Nakken's rise, however, predates Kapler. ESPN reports that she started with the Giants as a baseball operations intern in 2014. 

The native Californian began coaching after a successful college softball career. In her senior year at Sacramento State, the university says Nakken started in all 46 games. She reportedly had a .336 batting average and scored 32 runs. 

Nakken will have some stiff competition when it comes to the manager job. The Athletic reports that two of her co-workers are also vying for the job. Bench coach Kai Correa and third base coach Mark Hallberg also had initial interviews for the job last week, according to The Athletic.