Rachel Balkovec

Rachel Balkovec is a baseball executive known for her work in player development and sports analytics. Balkovec began her academic career studying exercise science at Creighton and New Mexico, where she played as a catcher on NCAA Division I softball teams. She earned a master's degree in kinesiology from Louisiana State University and later completed a master's degree in biomechanics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. During her time overseas, Balkovec conducted research on pitch tracking by hitters, which influenced her coaching approach.

Balkovec started her professional baseball career as a strength and conditioning coach for the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league team. She received the Appalachian League Award for Strength Coach of the Year and became the first woman hired as a full-time professional baseball coordinator. Balkovec then joined the Houston Astros as Latin American strength and conditioning coordinator and was promoted to strength and conditioning coach for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. Facing challenges in the hiring process, she at one point used the name Rae on applications to be considered for strength and conditioning roles. Balkovec was later hired by the New York Yankees as a minor-league hitting coach, becoming the first female full-time hitting coach in a Major League Baseball organization.

The Yankees named Balkovec manager of the Low-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons, making her the first female manager within a Major League Baseball organization. She also served as the first woman coach in the Futures Game for the American League side in Denver. During her managerial debut, the Tarpons won 9-6 against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Balkovec has emphasized the importance of visibility and representation for women in baseball, stating her commitment to being a role model for young women and families.

After managing the Tarpons for two seasons, Balkovec joined the Miami Marlins front office as director of player development. In this role, she oversees the development of minor league players, focusing on process-driven and goal-oriented strategies to support player advancement. Balkovec has expressed that her work in player development is part of a broader career in baseball operations, with aspirations for leadership roles within Major League Baseball. Her career highlights the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional baseball, as well as the growing impact of sports science and analytics in player development.