While there may not be much progress on the labour negotiation front between the MLB and the Player’s Union, the New York Yankees are reportedly preparing to make some social progress within their organization. According to reports, the Yankees are set to appoint Rachel Balkovec as their manager for their low-A farm team. These reports were later confirmed to MLB.com late Sunday evening.
Balkovec, 34, has been with the Yankees organization since 2019 when she joined the club as a hitting coach. The Nebraska native has held a variety of positions at the Major League level since breaking into the league as a strength and conditioning coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012.
A former softball player for the University of Creighton and New Mexico, Balkovec has worked with the Dutch national baseball and softball teams as well as the Houston Astros in the past several years.
The hire is significant because it makes Balkovec the first woman to work fulltime as a manager for a major league affiliated club. According to initial reports from The Athletic, the Yankees will have her manage their minor league Tampa Tarpons club.
After being hired as a hitting coach, Balkovec previously stated “I’m not the first woman to have a position in baseball, but I know this is a little different…I’m a product of the women who have come before me in sports. If somebody thinks I’m a trailblazer, great, because hopefully that’s creating an opportunity to think it’s possible for [others].” The former catcher was also a member of the 2021 All-Star Futures Game coaching staff which took place at Coors Field last year.
Barring another promotion before the 2022 season, the appointment also means that Balkovec will be overseeing Yankees uber-prospect Jasson Dominguez who reported to Low-A Tampa last year.
Now all that remains to be seen is the pesky matter of MLB owners and players getting on the same page so that baseball activities can begin to ramp up again.