Marlins Make Groundbreaking Hire Official

(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

It has been known for quite some time now that the Miami Marlins were going to hire Rachel Balkovec to join them as their director of player development.

However, the team hadn’t made it official yet.

That happened on Tuesday, so yes: it’s now official.

“The @Marlins have hired Rachel Balkovec as Director of Player Development. Balkovec managed the Yankees Single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons from 2022-23,” MLB tweeted.

The @Marlins have hired Rachel Balkovec as Director of Player Development.

Balkovec managed the Yankees Single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons from 2022-23. pic.twitter.com/FxmAkYYH4A

— MLB (@MLB) January 16, 2024

Balkovec had been working for the New York Yankees as the manager of the Tampa Tarpons, their Single-A affiliate, since 2022.

Balkovec takes yet another step forward in her career.

In recent seasons, she had become the first full-time female hitting coach in Minor League Baseball and also the first full-time female manager in MiLB.

Her career started in 2012, when the St. Louis Cardinals employed her as their strength and conditioning coach for their Rookie-league affiliate.

Her work was impressive and she assumed the role full-time (she was previously contracted).

She then joined the Houston Astros in 2016 as their Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator.

She had to learn Spanish to communicate with players.

After a stint in the Netherlands, she returned to the United States and worked at Driveline Baseball.

She then joined the Yankees in 2019 as a minor league hitting coach.

With the Marlins, she will have a huge say in player development and the minor league system.

With her hitting and managerial skills, plus her ability to communicate with players in Spanish, she has all the skills to be successful at her new role.

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