First time in MLB’s 155-year history
Three existing male coaches also interviewed
‘Due next February’ could become a factor
For the first time in its 155-year history, Major League Baseball (MLB) could have a female manager.
The Athletic, a U.S. sports publication, reported on Saturday that “the San Francisco Giants have
interviewed assistant coach Alyssa Nathan (33, pictured) for the head coaching job.” The team
immediately confirmed the story. “Nathan is the first woman publicly known to have interviewed for an
MLB managerial job,” MLBcom reported. San Francisco fired manager Gabe Kapler, 48, and is searching
for a new manager after failing to advance to “fall ball” for the second straight year.
Nathan, a former collegiate softball player, joined the Giants in 2014 as a front office staffer and became
the head coach when Kapler was fired in 2020. She was also the first woman to become a full-time MLB
coach. In her role with the Giants, Nathan worked primarily with pinch-hitting operations. San Francisco
set a new MLB record with 18 pinch-hit home runs in 2021. Nathan also became the first female coach in
MLB history to take the field when she replaced first base coach Antoine Richardson (40) after he was
ejected during an inning on April 13 last year.
However, Nathan is expecting her first child on February 10th, so it will not be easy for her to take over. She
even took two weeks off late in the season due to severe morning sickness. “I don’t want to think about it
already,” she said, “but there are a lot of (male) coaches who take time off during the season to have a
baby. I don’t think I’m going to be out of commission after having a baby because of my physical
condition.” In addition to Nathan, San Francisco interviewed three members of the existing coaching staff