Shout out and congratulations to Rachel Balkovec.
The Miami Marlins just hired Balkovec as their director of player development. This is a significant milestone for women in sports, as Balkovec is now the first woman to hold this position in Major League Baseball.
Rachel Balkovec is a trailblazer in the world of baseball. She was born on July 5, 1987, in Omaha, Nebraska. Balkovec is the first woman to work as a full-time manager of a major league-affiliated team. She was also the first woman to become a full-time strength and conditioning coach for an affiliated minor-league team. In 2022, the New York Yankees named Balkovec manager of their Class A minor league team, the Tampa Tarpons.
Balkovec’s journey to becoming a trailblazer in baseball began in 2012 when she worked as a temporary contract strength and conditioning coach for the Johnson City Cardinals, the Rookie league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. In that role, she won the Appalachian League’s award for strength coach of the year. In 2014, she assumed a full-time role as Johnson City affiliate’s strength and conditioning coordinator, the first time a woman had held that role in baseball.
Balkovec’s career continued to grow, and in 2016, she was hired by the Houston Astros to be their Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator. She was the first woman in that role in Major League Baseball. In 2018, she was promoted to be the Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks’ strength and conditioning coach.
Balkovec’s success in baseball is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has broken down barriers and paved the way for other women in sports. Her story is an inspiration to all those who aspire to achieve greatness in their chosen field.
Learn more at: Rachel Balkovec hired as Marlins director of player development (mlb.com)
The Sport Lady has been a lifelong sports enthusiast. She believes that sports have the power to unite people, create common bonds, and foster shared experiences. As a wife and mother of sports lovers, she is passionate about her favorite teams and cherishes every opportunity to watch them play. For her, every day is game day!