Rachel Balkovec says support from players, staff has been great

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Rachel Balkovec is teaching at the New York Yankees minor league minicamp and is a student, too.

Balkovec became the first woman hired to manage a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team when she was promoted last month by the Yankees to dugout boss of the Low A Tampa Tarpons.

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The 34-year-old has smashed several barriers on her way to the position. She was the first woman to serve as a full-time minor league strength and conditioning coach, then the first to be a full-time hitting coach in the minors with the Yankees.

"I’m grateful for this time to practice," Balkovec said after Wednesday's workout. "These guys are here to prepare, and I’m also here studying every morning watching video and learning aspects of defense. Learning our philosophies inside and out on defense."

Balkovec was involved with live batting practice, and worked with hitters like prospect Jasson Dominguez.

"It's just a little bit of everything right now," Balkovec said. "Kind of catching up on the defensive end of things and still spending some time in the cages with hitting and still keeping my foot there. So it's really all over the map right now."

FILE - New York Yankees minor league hitting coach Rachel Balkovec speaks to reporters during the Major League Baseball winter meetings, on Dec. 10, 2019, in San Diego. Rachel Balkovec is teaching at the New York Yankees minor league minicamp and is a student, too. Balkovec became the first woman hired to manage a minor league affiliate of a Major League Baseball team when she was promoted in January 2022 by the Yankees to dugout boss of the Low A Tampa