As a big time Yankee fan I am really excited and really proud of this hire by the organization.
I am not going to lie and say I had heard of Rachel Balkovek before she was hired by the Yankees… Because I definitely had not.
However, after seeing the announcement of her hire. Seeing she was the first female hitting coach, and getting excited… I had to do some research.
Balkovek is not the first female to be hired in baseball as a coach, but with the Yankees Organization, and the first as a full time hitting coach. She will serve as a Gulf Coast League hitting coach who will also spend time with farm teams in the Dominican Republic.
‘Things changed. That’s just the way it is.’ -Tupac #IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/KV806D6fqY
— Rachel Balkovec (@_rachelbalkovec) March 8, 2020
Rachel is from the West Coast and says that being a woman she had to work a bit harder to get where she is today, but she sees that as an advantage.
Mlb.com“From a woman’s perspective, I view my path as an advantage, because I had to do probably much more than a male counterpart,” Balkovec said. “I like that because I’m so much more prepared for the challenges that I may encounter. … I’m glad that I had to work harder because now I’m way more prepared than I would have been.”
This picture holds a lot of meaning for me. Great weekend, but damn do I have a lot of work to do. #wintermeetings #mlb pic.twitter.com/HcDufQItxy
— Rachel Balkovec (@_rachelbalkovec) December 5, 2016
Love that. Because I want every person in the Yankees organization to be people that bust their ass everyday to get better. Man, Woman or Alien I could care less. Just do your job to make the Yankees better.
Mlb.com“Since August, Balkovec has been researching eye tracking for hitters and hip movement for pitchers at Driveline Baseball, a data-driven performance training center in Washington State.”
Thankful for @MLB hosting yearly events showcasing and promoting diversity in the game. They have been instrumental in my career and I always look forward to participating. #MLBWinterMeetings Pics: Baseball player, Olivia, Latin American Scout, Anayma Acta & Youth coach, Cassie. pic.twitter.com/A5JwdXibf3
— Rachel Balkovec (@_rachelbalkovec) December 8, 2019
Yes, Yes, YES! Feed it to me. I love it. Baseball is not just see the ball hit the ball. It’s so much more than that. And, having Rachel and her two masters degrees in the “Science of Human Movement” (what?!) will help this organization continue to grow, develop and get better at every level.
Now, she wasn’t just hired and has been in Camp since Feb 1. But her story is starting to really grow in the mainstream sports media as we approach Opening Day.
Hear it from her own mouth on what wearing the Yankee Pinstripes mean to her:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jUfs7lKIw6A
I am extremely excited to follow Rachel’s career path with the Yankees. Hopefully she does wonders with the farm system and we will get to see her in the Bronx someday.
P.S.
She’s also a BEAST:
Hitting Coaches: DYEL?
— Rachel Balkovec (@_rachelbalkovec) November 22, 2019
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A little PAP for @slugfest2019 Day 1 in the sunshine state!
.#imnotdoneyet #isthisonplane #pvcsfordays #noteesallowed #DYEL #teamDYEL pic.twitter.com/jZmXIHWutR