TAMPA, Fla. — Rachel Balkovec is glad to have some time to get ready.
The 34-year-old who will become the first woman to manage an affiliated baseball team when she guides the low Class-A Tampa Tarpons this summer, has had 10 years in baseball to learn and cultivate her leadership style. She’s had three years in the Yankees organization to develop relationships with the players.
But there are some things this spring she is just getting used to that come with the new job, like players calling her “Skip,” the nickname for managers.
