Alyssa Nakken, first female coach, departs Giants for Guardians

Alyssa Nakken, the first full-time female coach in major league history, is departing the San Francisco Giants for a player development role with the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians haven’t announced her hiring or revealed what her duties will be.

Nakken, 34, held a coaching role with the Giants for the past five seasons. She made history on April 12, 2022 when she took over as first-base coach after Antoan Richardson was ejected against the San Diego Padres.

“We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. “Her leadership, dedication and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.”

Nakken interviewed for the Giants’ managerial job following the 2023 season after Gabe Kapler was fired. Bob Melvin ended up getting the gig.

Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 as a baseball operations intern following a standout softball career at Sacramento State. She later moved into a front office role before joining Kapler’s staff.

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