

When Alyssa Nakken took over coaching first base for the San Francisco Giants on July 20, 2020, it was a significant first in a sport that loves statistics. Nakken, who was already the first woman ever to join a Major League Baseball coaching staff full-time, became the first woman ever to coach on the field of play.
The appointment didn’t come easily. Back in March, 30-year-old Nakken and the Giants’ more experienced first-base coach Antoan Richardson took a walk together. They had a serious, candid heart-to-heart chat, as they made their way around a back field at Scottsdale Stadium for close to 45 minutes.
“Look, let’s not fool ourselves, you’re not ready,” Richardson told Nakken. Despite her love of baseball and her commitment to working hard behind the scenes for the team, Nakken didn’t yet have the maturity and experience to manage a position as important as first-base coach. Richardson knew it, and Alyssa knew it too.
So the two Giants coaches vowed to get back to work, realizing the importance of acknowledging all that Nakken still needed to learn. Their goal was not to be the first team to put a woman on the field unless it truly was the best decision for the ball club. When Nakken did take over for Richardson on the line, it was because she had earned the place and the confidence of the team and the rest of the coaching staff.
She was back out of the spotlight for the season opener at Dodger Stadium, making sure bench players stayed ready in the batting cage and giving advice on baserunning and outfield defense. Her contributions backstage are valuable too, and there is no plan for Nakken to replace Richardson as the regular first-base coach. That’s fine by her.
“I was always preparing and staying ready for whatever position I would be put in,” Nakken says. That included staying put where she was if it was where the team needed her. But Richardson believes in developing the staff as well as the players. He wanted to continue prompting the promising young athlete-turned-coach to move forward.
“We’ve talked about this opportunity before, but it kind of came quick. I was ready to go when Antoan Richardson encouraged me to go out there. It’s an awesome feeling to be out there,” Nakken says.
Plus, she loves the first-base line: “It’s the best place to watch the game, that’s for sure.”
First Comment
This is awsome ! The first Female Coach for the MLB ! Girl power lol. I've always wanted to play baseball but they only have softball for girls down here.
This is London
Being the first must be hard like people might not like it. Baseball is ok but basketball is better lol. My and my sisters used to pretend we were a really good baseball team called baseball ninjas we practiced everyday but we still were bad lol.
3rd comment
I am glad that she made it!!! Good for her! I don't necessarily have a favorite sport, because I am not allowed to play sports, but I would probably pick volleyball. Then basketball. But actually, archery is a sport and I do archery, so yeah!! oh and i like soccer too.
this is Mylee
we were going to play basketball this year but the homeschool group requires the parents to work the consessions and clean the bathrooms and clean the bleachers. Mom doesn't want to do that cause she has babies. It also is expensive and the games are far away.But I might get to next year! you do archery that is so cool!
@Mylee S
Thanks for the enthusiasm about archery! It is really a LOT of fun!!!!!!!!! I usually do about 3 competitions a year, because they are the only ones close enough for my family. It gets too expensive to go to some of the others that are more than a day away.
@riley D
yes, i like a lot of sports, but i think that archery and soccer are probably my favorites. once i came eighth in a state archery tournament.
@Warren C
Way to go!! Good job! What did you shoot? I mean what kind of bow? I shot a recurve and got 3rd in my state twice, but now I am switching to compound, and haven't gone to state yet with that because the competitions were cancelled last year because of covid. I hope to go this year though!
That's Great!
Good for her!
I prefer soccer lol but I played for 4years and I.....never...scored.....one......goal......in a game that is xD Once I stopped playing with the league I just played for fun with some friemd and THEN I could score *facepalm* LOL xD xD (I have officially retired from, soccer )
awesome
its also so cool to see the encouragement among the coaches.
WOMAN ARE POWERFULL I SAW
WOMAN ARE POWERFULL I SAW THIS VIDEO OF a baseball picher and a softball picher bolth pros they each threw a ball at a speed and power meter and whenthe girl who went last therw it she broke it!!!!
Yes!
GIRL POWER!!!