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In a sport long dominated by men, Taylor Carpenter and Morgan Leichtenberger are breaking barriers as the first female on-field staff members in Cedar Rapids Kernels’ history.
Carpenter, the team’s Lead Athletic Trainer, and Leichtenberger, the Assistant Trainer, are not only making history—they’re making an impact.
“It feels special,” Carpenter said. “You wish it would have happened sooner than this, but it’s always nice to be the first.” Leichtenberger added, “There’s not just one of us, but two of us kind of exploring it together.”
Both women bring experience and passion to the role. Carpenter, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate, has spent four seasons with the Minnesota Twins organization.
Leichtenberger, a Penn State alum, joined the Twins after time with the Dodgers and two seasons with their Rookie and low-A affiliates.
Despite challenges—like inadequate locker room accommodations and occasional lack of initial respect—the two are paving the way for future generations.
“Sometimes they think they can maybe get away with things a couple times more often with us, until you kind of put your foot down,” Carpenter said. “This is the way things are now, so you’d better adjust.”
Their presence is part of a growing shift in baseball, with more women like Christina Whitlock and Rachel Balkovec stepping into prominent roles.
For Carpenter and Leichtenberger, the ultimate goal remains clear.
“I want to see how far I can continue to get in professional baseball,” Carpenter said.
Their journey is just beginning, but they’re already inspiring the next wave of women in sports medicine and beyond. Read their full story here!
