lystn

On this episode of I AM HOME, the NFM team is sitting down with Rachel Balkovec, an Omaha native who is a three-time “first” woman in professional baseball. She started out as the first woman in baseball as a strength and conditioning coach, then became the first woman to be a full-time hitting coach, and currently, she is the first woman to be a minor league manager for the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

Rachel talks to our hosts Tyler, Becca, and Hilary, about overcoming obstacles, her efforts to empower women, and how finding ‘home’ in human connection is important to her coaching style. Join us today for an in-depth and vulnerable conversation with the world’s first woman in professional baseball.

Find Rachel today at:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/rachel.balkovec/?hl=en
• Her website - https://www.rachelbalkovec.com/

Resources:

• ESPN Profile - https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33691782/new-york-yankees-minor-league-manager-rachel-balkovec-worked-entire-life-moment
• MLB Take the Field event (for women interested in working in baseball on the field) - https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-s-take-the-field-event-inspiring-women-in-baseball
• MLB Profile - https://www.mlb.com/news/rachel-balkovec-debuts-as-yankees-minor-league-manager
• ESPN after debut - https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33701485/rachel-balkovec-cheered-historic-debut-managing-new-york-yankees-minor-league-team
• NPR after debut - https://www.npr.org/2022/04/09/1091879805/rachel-balkovec-the-1st-woman-to-manage-an-mlb-affiliated-team-debuts-with-a-win
• New York Times article in Jan. - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/sports/baseball/rachel-balkovec-yankees.html
• New York Times profile after debut - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/16/sports/baseball/rachel-balkovec-yankees-tarpons.html