Jennie Finch to Guest-Manage Bridgeport Bluefish in Independent Baseball League

Former softball star Jennie Finch will become the first woman to manage a men's professional baseball team Sunday.  

Finch will guest-manage the Bridgeport Bluefish for the day in addition to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, according to a press release from the team. Finch expressed her enthusiasm in the team's statement.  

“I am looking forward to coming to Bridgeport and The Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Sunday, May 29 to serve as Guest Manager for your Bridgeport Bluefish,” Finch said. “I look forward to seeing [all the fans] in Bridgeport! Go Bluefish!” 

Finch also responded to the announcement on Twitter:

Bridgeport general manager Jamie Toole also commented on the event.

“We are really excited to have Jennie come out and manage the team,” Toole said. “She is an incredible athlete and a wonderful person, and we hope our fans will enjoy seeing her in a Bluefish uniform for the day.”

The Bluefish are part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league, and are located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Finch was an All-American pitcher for the Arizona Wildcats from 1999 to 2002. She also played a prominent role for Team USA at the Olympics, winning a gold medal in 2004 and a silver medal in 2008.

Finch joins other women who have made impacts recently in men's sports. Jessica Mendoza, another softball star, joined ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast full time this season. Former WNBA star Becky Hammon has been an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs since August 2014.