Bianca Smith recently became the first black woman to get a job as a professional trainer when she was hired by the Boston Red Sox. Smith will be based in Fort Myers, Florida, and will position players in the team’s development complex. Although this is big business, it has more great aspirations.
In an interview with MLB.com, Smith, 29, said he would love to become a Major League Baseball manager someday.
“Don’t limit me. I want to go as high as I can,” said Smith. “I want to continue to challenge myself and now, yes, this is the MLB manager. I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Obviously, I changed my idea about being a GM, but as much as I love training, I want to be in that position [of manager]. I want to learn as much as I can and get to that role. “
The past year has been very important for women at the baseball game. Kim Ng became the first woman in professional sport to become general manager after being hired as the new general manager for Miami Marlins. Smith said Ng’s hiring “was too big” for her.
“I was so excited,” said Smith. “I’ve been following her career for years. It was about time. She was so important to me, my parents knew her name because I talked about her all the time. It was a great time for me. Check this out. Like I said, I thought it was time. She should have been hired [as a GM] years ago, if not decades ago. “
Weeks later, Smith has made her own history and will try to start her coaching career this year. But although she is very proud of what she has achieved so far, Smith is not limited in any way.
“I don’t want to put any limits on that. If anyone takes inspiration from this story, even better. I think my biggest thing I would like to say is to continue to follow your dreams,” said Smith. “It is hard work, but it is also worth it. Everything that is easy is not so much fun. I love the challenge.”