“I Was Blatantly Discriminated”- Rachel Balkovec Opens Up on Struggle After Historic Victory With New York Yankees Minor League Team

Breaking the stereotypes has never been an easy task. When it comes to women, due to certain stigmas, it becomes even tougher for them. But Rachel Balkovec of the New York Yankees has emerged as an example for women in sports.

On Friday, Rachel became the first-ever female manager in Major/Minor League Baseball history. However, her journey of becoming a manager of a baseball team has not been easy. She has sacrificed so much to become an example for women in a male dominating profession.

After becoming the manager of the team, Rachel opened up about her struggles to achieve the feat.

Rachel Balkovec makes her historic managerial debut as a baseball manager

After making her historical debut with the Yankees minor league team, Tampa Tarpons, Rachel won her first match as a manager. Balkovec guided the Tampa Tarpons to a 9-6 victory over the Lakeland. Even during the game, the entire stadium chanted her name throughout the game.

While discussing her journey, Rachel opened up about her struggle and hard work to become what she is. As per ESPN, the Tarpons manager said she was blatantly discriminated against when she started her journey back then. But overall she feels really excited.

“It’s been 10 years of just working to this point,” said Rachel Balkovec. “Things have evolved. I was blatantly discriminated against back then. Some people say not to say that, but it’s just part of what has happened, and I think it’s important to say because it lets you know how much change has happened… Overall I feel really excited.”

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Notably, the Yankees hired her as their minor league manager in January 2022. Rachel has been in this field for over 10 years now. Earlier in 2012, she joined the St Louis Cardinals as a strength and conditioning coach for their minor league team. While in the 2016 season, the Houston Astros hired her for the same position.

Later in 2019, she joined the Yankees as a minor league hitting coach. Looking back on her journey, Rachel had to struggle for almost 10 years for a notable position in baseball. But she never gave up. 

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And that day is not very far when we can see her giving instructions to an MLB side. She is a true inspiration for all women across the world.