Bianca Smith makes Red Sox and MLB history

The Boston Red Sox celebrates the announcement of their new coach Bianca Smith who is making history as the first black woman coach in the MLB. Smith will be acting as the coach for the Red Sox minor league and the Red Sox is welcoming the new coach with open arms.

Bianca Smith will be joining the #RedSox organization this season, making her the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball history. pic.twitter.com/ZQsHd8iprD

— Red Sox (@RedSox) January 5, 2021

The Red Sox vice president of player development Ben Crockett disclosed, “She was a great candidate coming in. She’s had some really interesting experiences and has been passionate about growing her skillset and development herself.” Smith has a background in sports including serving as a graduate assistant and director of baseball operations for Case Western Reserve University and playing softball for Dartmouth College from 2010 to 2012.

Following her five years at Case Western Reserve, Smith transitioned into the role of assistant coach at the University of Dallas along with internships for the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. Smith has also worked as the hitting coordinator and assistant coach for Carroll University starting in 2019.

Congratulations to Bianca Smith, who was just hired by the ⁦@RedSox⁩ as a minor league coach.

She will be the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball history.

See it. Be it! #RepresentationMatters #MLB https://t.co/kbE6DXlgGo

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) January 4, 2021

Smith is one member of a growing group of women working in unprecedented positions in male-dominated professional sports leagues. Last year, the San Francisco Giants made history hiring former Sacramento State softball player, Alyssa Nakken, as the first full-time female coach in major league baseball.

The Miami Marlins also made MLB history by hiring seasoned MLB professional Kim Ng as their general manager and she is believed to be the first woman hired as a general manager for any professional men’s sports teams in the North American Major Leagues. This change in professional sports leagues seems to be changing from the traditional boy-only club to be more inclusive and offer everyone an equal opportunity for advancement. These women are changing the face and future of sports for the next generation of sports for all.