Pioneering San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken became the first woman in MLB history to interview for a managerial job after meeting with the team last week, multiple outlets reported Sunday.
Nakken, 33, is the third member of the Giants’ current coaching staff – joining bench coach Kai Correa and third base coach Mark Hallberg — to sit down with the team to discuss replacing Gabe Kapler, who was fired on the final weekend of a second straight non-playoff season.
The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly first reported Nakken had been interviewed by the Giants.
Meanwhile, popular former A’s and Giants catcher Stephen Vogt is reportedly in line to be interviewed by San Francisco, according to The Chronicle. There are expected to be many other outside candidates to take over for Kapler, who was let go after four seasons and one year remaining on his contract.
Nakken, who finished her fourth season as a Giants coach, made MLB history in 2020 when she joined Kapler’s big league staff, becoming the first female coach ever in the majors.
Three years ago, Rachel Balkovec became the first female manager ever of a major league-affiliated team when she became the team leader for the New York Yankees’ Low-A affiliate in Tampa.
Nakken, once a decorated softball star at Sacramento State, where she was a three-time all-conference player, has been part of the Giants organization since 2014. She started out as a baseball operations intern with the Giants.
No matter how the interview process plays out, this will be a special offseason for Nakken, who is due to give birth to her first child on Feb. 9.
Farhan Zaidi, the Giants president of baseball operations, has indicated he’d like to hire a new manager by the first week of November. The Giants are seeking a new voice for a squad that finished in fourth place in the National League West with a disappointing 79-83 record.