SAN FRANCISCO — Alyssa Nakken, recognized as the first woman to actively coach on a major league field when she undertook duties at first base for San Francisco in April 2022, has now stepped into the spotlight as a contender for the Giants’ managerial role.
The Giants’ President of Baseball Operations, Farhan Zaidi, confirmed on Sunday evening that Alyssa Nakken had recently been in discussions for the esteemed position. This development was first reported by The Athletic. Adding a personal touch to her journey, her spouse, Robert, joyfully shared in August about their forthcoming bundle of joy; the couple is expecting a daughter come February 9.
Zaidi is on a timeline, aiming to fill the managerial gap by the onset of the free agency, a seat left vacant after the departure of Gabe Kapler. Kapler’s tenure witnessed a blend of highs and lows; an impressive franchise record of 107 victories in 2021 and narrowly surpassing the Dodgers, though followed by a playoff miss in consecutive seasons.
Under Kapler, the Giants demonstrated a fluctuating performance, recording 79-83 this season and a balanced 81-81 the prior year. Their recent form saw a concerning scoring drought, being limited to two or fewer runs in their concluding eight matches.
Nakken isn’t new to the baseball field or academic accolades. A stellar softball player at Sacramento State between 2009-2012, her association with the Giants began when Kapler onboarded her in early 2020. Her college years were marked with commendable on-field prowess and academic achievements. Following her undergraduate journey, she pursued a master’s in sports management from the University of San Francisco in 2015, enriching her credentials with an internship at the Giants’ operations department the year before.