SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants made history Tuesday night, and it didn’t have anything to do with the 10 runs they scored in the first two innings against Padres starter Yu Darvish.
When they stepped to the plate in the third inning, there was a new face in the first base coaches box: Alyssa Nakken, the trailblazing assistant on Gabe Kapler’s staff who shattered another ceiling Tuesday night, becoming the first woman to appear in an on-field role in a major-league game.
Nakken, who normally serves in a general assistant role on the bench, got the opportunity when first base coach Antoan Richardson was ejected the previous inning. Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer shook her hand, and she was greeted by high fives all around when she returned to the dugout after the inning.
Nakken became the first woman to be a full-time staff member at the major league level when she was named an assistant coach before the 2020 season, after spending six years in the Giants’ front office.
Nakken had previously appeared at first base during exhibitions but never during a regular-season game.
San Francisco chased Darvish from the game after 1 2/3 innings and went on to win 13-2.
Evan Webeck, The Mercury News