The Miami Marlins are finally getting with the times, having hired their first female employees for baseball ops and on the field.
Maybe, just maybe, Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter is starting to get the hang of this ownership thing.
After an inauspicious start, bad trades, and the callous treatment of franchise icons, the Marlins are starting to make steps in the right direction. Their trade of Christian Yelich netted quite an impressive return of prospects, including Lewis Brinson, who actually wants to be in Miami. A couple of more trades like that, and the minor leagues could actually become a strength for the franchise.
The Marlins are making strides in other areas as well. For the first time in franchise history, the Marlins are hiring women for positions in baseball ops, aside from personal assistants, and on the field. Alexandria Rigoli will be serving as a pro scouting assistant, while Melissa Hampton is set to become the athletic trainer for the Marlins Gulf Coast League entry.
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For Rigoli, scouting is a family business. She spent time with her father, Joe Rigoli, as he worked as an amateur scout in the Cape Cod Baseball League. She would watch her father’s work, mimicking his note taking style and checking with him to see if her stopwatch times matched his. He job with the Marlins involves checking the 40 man rosters of every major league team, being sure that they are updated in case Miami has to face someone new.
For Hampton, her position came about after a year long internship. Her position with the Gulf Coast League team is not the only responsibility, as Hampton is a year round employee. She also assists with rehabbing players and workouts before Spring Training, looking to get the players back on the field.
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The Miami Marlins have entered the modern era. After 25 years, they finally have women on the field and in their baseball ops department.