Boston Red Sox hire Bianca Smith, 29, who becomes professional baseball's first African-American female coach

The Boston Red Sox have hired Bianca Smith to be a minor league coach, making her the first black woman to hold that title in professional baseball.

'The opportunity is amazing,' Smith told MLB Network. 'I'm still wrapping my head around it. I probably won't really have it sink in until I'm actually there.'

For the last two years, the 29-year-old had been working as an assistant coach and hitting coordinator at Carroll University (Wisconsin), but will now be working at the club's spring training and player development facility in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Boston Red Sox have hired Bianca Smith to be a minor league coach, making her the first black woman to hold that title in professional baseball

Bianca Smith pictured in a jacket emblazoned with Negro League team logos and wearing a Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers replica uniform 

She previously worked as an assistant coach at the University of Dallas in 2018 and, prior to that, as the director of baseball operations at Case Western Reserve University.

'I think it's a great opportunity also to kind of inspire other women who are interested in this game,' Smith told MLB Network.

'This is not really something I thought about when I was younger. I kind of fell into it being an athlete. So I'm excited to get that chance to show what I can do.'

Smith's hiring comes after a banner year for women in baseball.

In November, the Miami Marlins hired Kim Ng (pronounced: Ang) as general manager, making her the first woman or Asian American to hold that title in the Major Leagues. In fact, Ng remains the only female general manager in any of the four major American team sports leagues: NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB.

Ten months earlier, the San Francisco Giants made Alyssa Nakken the first female coach on an MLB staff. Later, during a preseason exhibition, Nakken became the first woman to serve as a first base coach during a game

Earlier in 2020, the San Francisco Giants made Alyssa Nakken the first female coach on an MLB staff. Later, during a preseason exhibition, Nakken became the first woman to serve as a first base coach during a game

In November, the Miami Marlins hired Kim Ng (pronounced: Ang) as general manager, making her the first woman or Asian American to hold that title in the Major Leagues