When interim manager Kai Correa and Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts met at home plate to exchange lineup cards, they both knew they were making history.
According to the Dodgers’ official Twitter account, Roberts and Correa became the first head coaches of Asian descent to square off in a major American professional sport — encompassing MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL.
Correa, the Giants’ acting manager after the organization dismissed Gabe Kapler, reflected on the moment with the media after the game.
“I’m glad I got to have that moment with Doc,” Correa said. “I don’t know if you saw, but I took a little time to give him a message. I just thanked him for representing our shared background and creating opportunities for folks who look like me, have that heritage. Just an appreciation for him taking the time to come out for the lineup for that specific reason. It meant a lot to me.”
Correa, known to be the first Hawaii native to manage a MLB team, is reportedly of Portuguese, Hawaiian and Japanese descent.
Roberts, one of two active Black managers in MLB, was already the first manager of Asian descent to win a World Series. Roberts’ mother is Japanese and he was born in Japan.
“For me as an Asian-American to be able to exchange lineup cards with Kai, I’m proud of him and what he’s done and what he’s doing,” Roberts told reporters postgame, via The Associated Press. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
Correa’s path to the big leagues is quite rare. He never played professional baseball, instead topping out at Division III University of Puget Sound. By dedicating to infield instruction and teaching, he rose through the ranks in college ball as a coach and eventually broke into MLB in 2017. Kapler and the Giants hired him in 2020, and he’s since been a valued member of the staff.
“It’s good for the game in the sense that someone that didn’t play professional baseball or big league baseball has reached the heights that he has,” Roberts added. “That’s good for people that look like us…When you step back for a second & realize the significance, it’s big.”