Red Sox coach Smith sets sights on MLB managerial role
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[January 08, 2021]
By Frank Pingue
(Reuters) - Bianca Smith, who this week
became the first Black woman coach in professional baseball when she
was hired by the Boston Red Sox, hopes to be manager of a Major
League Baseball club one day.
Smith was appointed this week to serve as a minor league coach based
at the team's player development complex in Fort Meyers, Florida.
"Long-term goals, easiest way to put it is just get as high as I
can, which at this point is MLB manager," Smith said during a video
news conference on Thursday.
"I never want to have to limit myself. I just want to go as high as
I can, as far as I can, and if right now that's manager then that's
it. I just want to keep challenging myself."
Smith, who grew up playing soccer before turning to softball in high
school, will officially begin her time with the Red Sox in a few
weeks after completing her role as assistant coach and hitting
coordinator at Carroll University in Wisconsin.
The 29-year-old Smith, who previously held internships in the
baseball operations departments of MLB's Texas Rangers and
Cincinnati Reds, hopes her new barrier-breaking role will inspire
other women interested in this game.
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"Now that I am in this position I am hoping to be that person that
they see that looks like them and gives them the idea that 'hey I
can do this'," said Smith.
"When I was younger I never thought about working in sports
... and that was because I hadn't seen anybody who looks like me
really working in sport."
Smith expects her biggest challenge to be getting to know each
player.
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"I can't just jump in and give them instruction when I have no idea
what kind of person I am dealing with," Smith said. "Getting to know
them is going to be the first hurdle."
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
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