S.F. Giants hire first female full-time in MLB history By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.30.20 Word Count 450 Level 610L

Image 1. Alyssa Nakken, pictured here with the Sacramento State University Hornets softball team, will be the first full-time female coach in Major League . She's with the San Francisco Giants. Photo: Bob Solorio/Sacramento State Athletics

The San Francisco Giants is a (MLB) team. The team plays in San Francisco, California. In January, they hired a woman to coach the team full-time. She will be the first woman to ever do this. Her name is Alyssa Nakken.

Nakken has worked with the Giants since 2014. She started as an intern. An intern trains at a job in order to learn more about it. Recently, she has been in charge of health programs for the team.

Nakken played softball in college. She was an excellent player. She won many awards for being a great player and student.

The Giants hired another coach, too. His name is Mark Hallberg. He has helped develop players for the past two years. The Giants now have 13 coaches.

Deep Sense Of Teamwork

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Gabe Kapler is the head coach of the Giants. He said that Nakken and Hallberg are "highly respected members" of the Giants. They will now help build a winning team and a deep sense of teamwork, Kapler said.

Other women have also gotten other jobs with MLB teams. Justine Siegal was the first woman to throw batting practice for an MLB team in 2011.

Jessica Mendoza is a baseball analyst for a major sports channel. She explores and studies details about baseball. The hired her.

Veronica Alvarez was hired by the A's. She worked with catchers.

Rachel Balkovec is a hitting coach. She works for the New York Yankees. Before, she was a fitness coach for two other MLB teams.

Nakken will help the Giants with outfield work before games. She may also pitch during batting practice. She is not expected to wear the uniform in the dugout during games. The MLB has a rule about this. It only allows teams to have seven coaches on the bench during games.

Will Wear A Uniform Before Games

Nakken will wear a uniform before games. She will also travel with the team.

"Simply, I think she's going to be a great coach," Kapler said. He said her excellence and skills are the most important things.

Kathy Strahan was Nakken's softball coach in college.

"I'm still getting goose bumps," says Strahan. "I always knew she'd do something great, I really did, but didn't know what because she could do so many things. I think she'll bring a lot to the [team]."

Strahan thinks Nakken will help the MLB have a broader view. She says Nakken is smart and driven.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Read the paragraph from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4].

The San Francisco Giants is a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. The team plays in San Francisco, California. In January, they hired a woman to coach the team full-time. She will be the first woman to ever do this. Her name is Alyssa Nakken.

Which question is answered in this paragraph?

(A) What makes Nakken's hire special?

(B) Why did the Giants hire Nakken?

(C) How many women work for MLB teams?

(D) When will Nakken coach her first game?

2 Read the section "Deep Sense Of Teamwork."

Select the paragraph from the section that explains some of Nakken's coaching responsibilities.

(A) Other women have also gotten other jobs with MLB teams. Justine Siegal was the first woman to throw batting practice for an MLB team in 2011.

(B) Jessica Mendoza is a baseball analyst for a major sports channel. She explores and studies details about baseball. The New York Mets hired her.

(C) Rachel Balkovec is a hitting coach. She works for the New York Yankees. Before, she was a fitness coach for two other MLB teams.

(D) Nakken will help the Giants with outfield work before games. She may also pitch during batting practice. She is not expected to wear the uniform in the dugout during games. The MLB has a rule about this. It only allows teams to have seven coaches on the bench during games.

3 According to the section "Deep Sense Of Teamwork," why does Nakken have to stay out of the dugout during games?

(A) Female coaches are not allowed in the dugout during games.

(B) MLB rules say only seven coaches are allowed on the bench during games.

(C) Only coaches who have been with the team for five years are allowed on the bench during games.

(D) Only players are allowed in the dugout during games.

4 Why does Kathy Strahan think Nakken will be a good coach?

(A) because she is intelligent and determined

(B) because she is talented and hardworking

(C) because she was an excellent player

(D) because she won many awards

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.