VOA文化艺术2022--美国棒球大联盟迎来首位女性主教练

First Female¹ Coach Works² on the Field in Baseball

Alyssa Nakken was working in a training area when the call came: The San Francisco Giants baseball team needed her to coach at first base.

Nakken quickly put on her No. 92 team shirt and found a bright orange batting helmet. A few minutes later, she made major league history as the first female coach on the field in a regular-season game when she took her place Tuesday night. Her team won with a score of 13-2 over San Diego.

Nakken agreed that being the first female coach "carries a little bit more weight because of the visibility," adding, "But again, this is my job."

Nakken came in the game to coach first base for the Giants after Antoan Richardson was removed by game officials. Richardson had to leave his position after an exchange of insults³ with the opposing coach.

Welcome from the crowd

Nakken received a warm welcome from the crowd when she came in. San Diego player Eric Hosmer shook her hand in congratulations.

Nakken said she has been ready to step in. "I've been in training as a first base coach for the last few years and work alongside⁴ Antoan, so I stepped into what I've been hired to do, [that] is support this staff and this team," she said.

The baseball Hall of Fame was ready, too. Her helmet is already on its way to the museum in Cooperstown, New York.

San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said Nakken has been working with Richardson and other coaches. "So, it's not a foreign spot on the field for her. She does so many other things well that aren't seen," he said. "So, it's nice to see her kind of be right there in the spotlight⁵ and do it on the field."

A softball player in college, Nakken became the first female coach in major league baseball when she was hired by Kapler in January 2020. The 31-year-old Nakken is an assistant coach who works with helping⁶ players to improve base running and outfield defense⁷. She watches games from a training area near the dugout - an area for team members to sit when they are not on the field. She also keeps a Giants team shirt nearby just in case she needs it.

On Tuesday night, she needed it.

"It's a big deal," she said. "I feel a great sense of responsibility and I feel it's my job to honor⁸ those who have helped me to where I am."

Four days earlier, Rachel Balkovec became the first woman to manage a minor⁹ league team of a Major League Baseball club. She guided the New York Yankees' Class A Tampa to a win in her first game.

Words in This Story

coach – v. to teach someone so they improve at a sport, skill, or in a school subject

helmet – n. a hard hat that protects your head

visibility – n. how much someone or something is seen or noticed by other people

(in the) spotlight – phrase. getting a great deal of attention from others

dugout – n. a shelter for the members of a team at the side of a sports field

1 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 insults   

侮辱，辱骂，侮辱性的言论( insult的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He shouted insults at the boy who had kicked him. 他大声辱骂那个踢了他的男孩。
• I will by no manner of means put up with such insults. 我绝不会容忍这种侮辱。

4 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

5 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

9 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。