Cubs Hire Sports Biomechanics Expert Rachel Folden as Minor League 'Lead Hitting Lab Tech'
By Parker White
The Chicago Cubs made some pretty big news on Friday when they announced some new hires to their minor league coaching staffs, including former softball player Rachel Folden as their lead minor league hitting lab tech for Rookie League Mesa.
The 32-year-old Folden is a whiz at this, and should be a fast riser.
The #Cubs today announced new hires to the minor league coaching staffs: pic.twitter.com/FJtQOY570s
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 22, 2019
Folden has plenty of experience, as she created Folden Fastpitch in 2010, an organization that provides baseball and softball instruction using science and technology. She also played five seasons in the National Pro Fastpitch league, including spending some time in Chicago with the Bandits.
I am extremely honored and proud for the opportunity to work for this organization. First class from the top down, and I can’t wait to get started. It has been a dream of mine to work in baseball for a while now, and with that being said...
— Rachel Folden (@FoldenFastpitch) November 22, 2019
LET’S GOOOOOOOO!! https://t.co/cAKQIRGpLb
The Marshall Athletics Hall of Famer isn't foreign to the dugout from a coaching standpoint, as she was an assistant coach for Valparasio from 2009-10.
Folden certainly has a more modern and data-driven approach to hitting, which has become more in vogue these days, and she'll have an opportunity to see that play out at a much higher level being the fourth hitting coach for the Cubs' rookie level team.