Interviewing an assistant coach from an incumbent coaching staff for a managerial opening certainly isn’t unusual. However, the Giants stepped into historic territory in speaking with candidates to replace recently fired manager Gabe Kapler.
Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken talked to San Francisco for the position, making her the first woman to get a formal interview for a major league managing job. According to The Athletic‘s Andrew Baggarly, Nakken is one of three internal candidates from Kapler’s staff to meet with the team, joining bench coach Kai Correa and third base coach Mark Hallberg.
Being a baseball coaching pioneer is nothing new for Nakken, who became the first woman to be an assistant on an MLB staff in 2020. Her official title with the team is “assistant coach” but during her tenure, she’s performed on-field coaching duties as well.
The moment history was made. Congrats, Alyssa Nakken 👏 pic.twitter.com/pzW7NKHTwb
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 13, 2022
Shortly after being hired, Nakken coached at first base during an exhibition game. (She also served as Kapler’s bench coach in a 2023 spring training game.) And in April 2022, she was the first woman to coach on the field during a regular-season major league game. Nakken took over for Antoan Richardson at first base after he was ejected.
During her four years on the Giants’ staff, Nakken has instructed players in baserunning, outfield defense, and in-game preparation. She also played a key role in working with pinch-hitters during the 2021 season, when San Francisco won 107 regular-season games. Giants’ pinch-hitters hit 18 home runs off the bench that year.
Nakken, who played softball at Sacramento State, has been with the Giants organization since 2014. She initially worked as an intern before joining the front office.
