The A’s became the first major league team to employ a female coach Tuesday when they announced they have hired Justine Siegal to serve as a guest instructor for the team’s Instructional League in Arizona October 4-17.
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She has thrown batting practice in spring training for several major league teams, including the A’s and Cleveland Indians in 2011.
We feel like Justine has a lot to offer and that (the Instructional League) is a great place to get her feet wet …
More recently, Siegal has spent her time working with Baseball For All, a non-profit organization that she founded to give young women the opportunity to play baseball.
Siegal has been coaching male baseball players professionally since 2009 when she was hired as first base coach for the Independent League Brockton Rox, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
In June, a 16-year-old French shortstop made MLB history when her name was added to the worldwide registration list, making her eligible to be signed by a Major League club.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that Siegal works as head coach for the national nonprofit Baseball For All, which provides instruction and opportunities in baseball, particularly for girls.
The hiring of Justine Siegal is a step in the right direction, and the Oakland Athletics should be proud of their decision to add her to their organization, even if only for two weeks.
Siegal has a PhD in sport and exercise psychology from Springfield and a master’s in sports studies from Kent State.
But for Siegal herself this is a heck of an opportunity, one she’s been chasing for years. “And I do like talking about life skills; I like to help people achieve their life goals”. “The A’s do not have their minor-league coaching assignments set for next season, so they do not yet have an idea about potential job availability”.
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Justine knows that nothing has been promised, but we’re not ruling that out”,
Forst said of a full-time position.
“I think it would be incredible to coach full-time”, Siegal said.
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There’s also a chance Siegal breaks more barriers once her stint at the A’s Instructional League concludes.
