SF Giants news: Alyssa Nakken on Baseball Digest cover

SF Giants coach Alyssa Nakken made the cover of Baseball Digest.

SF Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken became one of the first two women in a major league uniform to grace the cover of Baseball Digest magazine with the May/June issue of the magazine, which has been around for nearly eight decades.

Nakken shared the cover with Yankees coach Rachel Balkovec.

Nakken was named to manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in January. She had been with the organization since 2014 working in different roles from baseball operations as an intern to helping with running the Giants race and other administrative duties.

Baseball Digest notes that the issue was printed in limited qualities due to COVID-19, but it will be available in stores beginning on May 5. It can also be purchased online. The publication has been around since 1942.

Nakken told NBC Sports Bay Area her story in February.

Kapler was named the Giants’ new manager in November following the retirement of longtime skipper Bruce Bochy, who retired.

All the while interviewing people outside the organization, Kapler was having conversations with Nakken about the club. It turns out it was pretty much a monthlong job interview she didn’t know she was having.

"“Never once did Gabe talk about being the first or even being female,” Nakken said in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Amy Gutierrez. “We needed an All-Star on this staff to just help kind of guide the ship because all of these coaches are new except for Ron Wotus and I’ve been in the organization for five years.“I know the ins and outs and who to talk to. I’ve given blood, sweat and tears to this organization already, literally, and I’m so excited to continue that.”"

Nakken played first base on the softball team at Sacramento State, where she earned a bachelors degree in sports management. She went on to earn a master’s degree in sports management from San Francisco State after that.

Nakken was given All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference honors each of her four years there.

We noted at the time Nakken joined the coaching staff that she joins a list of Bay Area women making their names in pro sports.

When baseball returns, you won’t necessarily see Nakken in the dugout during games. MLB rules allow only seven coaches in the dugout and Kapler already had those original seven on his staff. However, she’ll be in uniform and working on hitting and fielding drills before games.