A's invite Justine Siegal to Instructional League
First woman to throw Major League batting practice will serve as guest instructor
OAKLAND - The Oakland Athletics have invited Justine Siegal-who is best known as the first woman to throw batting practice for a Major League Baseball team-to serve as a guest instructor for the A's 2015 Instructional League slate from Oct. 4-17 at the Lew Wolff Training Complex in Mesa, Ariz.
Siegal became the first woman to coach men's baseball professionally in 2009 when she served as first-base coach for the Brockton Rox, an independent baseball team. She also served as an assistant coach for the baseball team at Springfield College from 2008-10.
Siegal currently serves as head coach and founder of Baseball For All, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide meaningful instruction and opportunity in baseball, especially for girls. Its vision statement reads: "Baseball For All empowers, educates, instills leadership and creates opportunities for girls to play baseball. We empower others to begin or extend their baseball programs to girls around the world."
She also directs a program that champions gender equity in sport for Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, a world-renowned leader for over thirty years in using sport to promote social justice and primary prevention education specific to all forms of violence, including youth and relationship violence.
During her time as a guest instructor with the A's, Siegal will assist the A's player development staff both on and off the field.
"We're thrilled that Justine will be joining us for Instructional League," said David Forst, Oakland A's assistant general manager. "She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise from years of playing, coaching, and teaching the game, and all of our young players stand to benefit greatly from her time in camp."
In spring of 2011, Siegal threw batting practice for six Major League teams: the A's, Indians, Rays, Cardinals, Astros and Mets. That year, she also completed the Major League Scouting Bureau scout school and served as the co-chairperson of SABR's Women in Baseball Committee.
She holds a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology from Springfield College and an M.A. from Kent State University in Sport Studies. She earned her B.A. from St. Olaf College in 1998.