Bianca Smith ready to put ‘first’ title away in second season as Red Sox coach

With mere weeks to go before the Boston Red Sox’s rookie baseball team kicks off its 2022 season, Bianca Smith is well aware that her new position as a full-time coach for the Florida Complex League club is another milestone in her trailblazing career path.

She just doesn’t want anyone to linger too long over the moment.

“If anything, the title (of ‘first’) should show that we haven’t progressed as far as we think we have,” said the 30-year-old Smith, who first made headlines in January 2021 when she was named the first Black female coach in professional baseball history.

“The fact that it’s 2022, and we’re still getting excited about the first time a woman does something – and this game has been around for over 100 years. Like, that’s really sad, actually.”

Smith starts this season with the FCL Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., with a new title, minor league coach. After her start last year as a part-time hitting coach, Smith told On Her Turf that this new title more aptly reflects her role on the player development staff, which has expanded to include everything from batting practice and baserunning, to infield and outfield practice.

“I think the Red Sox purposely titled it as ‘minor league coach’ just so I could do multiple things,” said Smith, who describes herself as a “utility” coach – ready and willing to jump in whenever, wherever needed. “And it’s pretty cool being able to run different areas. I’m that type of person who likes having responsibility over one or two areas. But I also like being able to be involved in others, even if I’m not the expert, because part of it is I want to learn more.”

Keeping multiple irons in the fire while also soaking in all available knowledge has been a hallmark of Smith’s journey into