By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

 

Miami Marlins hire Balkovec

Former West Seattle resident Rachel Balkovec has been hired as the Miami Marlins' Director of Player Development multiple Major League Baseball and media sources said Tuesday morning.

She is the first woman in Major League Baseball history to hold such a position.

Balkovec, now 36, served the past two years as manager of the Tampa Tarpons, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

She was the first woman minor league manager, after being the first woman full-time hitting instructor -- also with the Yankees organization.

Balkovec was born and raised in Omaha, Neb., but West Seattle was one of many places she has lived along the way to becoming a professional baseball trailblazer.