Ronnie Gajownik

Veronica Gajownik

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 7", Weight 137 lb.
• School Jacksonville University, Indian River State College, University of South Florida, Liberty University

• Born August 4, 1993

Biographical Information

Ronnie Gajownik played for the USA women's national team. In the 2015 Pan American Games, she backed up Jenna Marston at second base, going 0 for 1 and handling one assist. This was the first time women's baseball was a medal sport at the Pan American Games.

A softball player in college, Gajownik graduated in 2015 from the University of South Florida with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. From there she went to Liberty University where she earned a master's degree in exercise science. While at Liberty, Gajownik worked as a graduate assistant coach with the women's softball team. She then moved into full-time coaching and was an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 2018-2021.

In early 2021 the Arizona Diamondbacks hired Gajownik for a player development role with the Hillsboro Hops. In 2022 she was originally slated for a coaching position with the ACL Diamondbacks Black. However, Amarillo Sod Poodles coach Javier Colina was injured early in the season and the Diamondback promoted Gajownik to replace him. Among other duties, she served as the team's first base coach. After the season she coached the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.

On January 20, 2023, she was named the manager of Hillsboro, becoming the second female manager in the minor leagues after Rachel Balkovec and the first in High-A. She was part of another historic occasion on May 2nd of that year when the Hops faced the Vancouver Canadians, who numbered Ashley Stephenson as part of their coaching staff: it was the first time two female coaches had faced one another in a minor league game. Gajownik returned to Amarillo as bench coach in 2024.

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2023	Hillsboro Hops	Northwest League	56-76	6th	Arizona Diamondbacks

Further Reading

• Michael Avallone: "Hillsboro's Gajownik makes history as first High-A woman manager", mlb.com, April 7, 2023. [1]
• Steve Gilbert: "D-backs name Gajownik as 1st woman skipper at High-A level", mlb.com, January 20, 2023. [2]
• Steve Gilbert: "Lovullo on Gajownik: 'She's got a great baseball mind'", mlb.com, March 6, 2023. [3]
• Frederick Hanna III: "UMass Softball Assistant Coach Ronnie Gajownik producing instructional videos for MLB Develops program", Massachusetts Daily Collegian, October 19, 2020. [4]
• Stephanie Sheehan: "Two woman coaches face off for first time at High-A", mlb.com, May 3, 2023. [5]
• Ryan Young: "Diamondbacks hire Ronnie Gajownik as first female manager of a High-A team", Yahoo! Sports, January 20, 2023. [6]