SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Alyssa Nakken is more than just the first uniformed female staff member in major-league history. After giving birth to her first child last month, the trailblazing San Francisco Giants assistant coach is now baseball’s first mom, too.
It was a mystery how Nakken’s pregnancy would affect her status with the team this spring, but manager Bob Melvin provided an update Saturday.
“She may be here for a day or two,” Melvin said. “But I think she’s going to take her whole leave consecutively, is my understanding.”
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Austyn Brielle Nakken was born to Alyssa and her husband, Robert Abel, on January 21.
While the new mom plans to take her full maternity leave, it hasn’t prevented her from making contributions. As somebody who’s time in the organization predated Gabe Kapler, Nakken has been especially valuable this offseason helping to on board Melvin and his new staff.
Even balancing the newborn, Nakken has participated in Zoom calls leading up to camp. And before she gave birth, Nakken worked throughout her pregnancy. She was the driving force between a two-day coaches’ summit at the team’s facility down here.
“Until she had the baby, I think she had some trepidation about not being here,” Melvin said. “But I think now she realizes how important that is. I told her you just do your thing and we’ll figure it out when you’re ready. … There’s a lot more important things going on in her life right now.”