When Nick Swisher played Major League Baseball, fans affectionately called him “Swish.” Now, they can just call him coach.
The former World Series champion outfielder hasn’t stepped on an MLB diamond in more than a decade, and has instead embraced life as a father of two girls — and a part-time middle school softball coach to his oldest daughter, Emerson, 12. (Swisher, 45, and his wife, actress JoAnna Garcia, also share daughter Sailor, 10.)
“I love it,” Swisher, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly as part of his partnership with Ford and MLB, joking that the other parents may be too quick to draw comparisons between his game and his daughter’s.
“When Emme gets up to bat in a softball game, everybody’s looking at me, like ‘I knew it bro, he couldn’t hit anyway,’” Swisher said.
While softball may be the most natural way for the ex-New York Yankees All-Star to bond with Emerson, he is careful to embrace his daughters’ passions — whatever they may be.
“One of the things that I’ve realized in just my short 12 years of existence of being a father, you got to let the kid lead the way,” he explained. “I think one of the things that we really pay attention to is passion. Obviously, for myself, I have a crazy amount of passion. I’ve got a crazy amount of excitement and energy. And I think that’s where we shepherd our girls.”
He continued, “My oldest daughter might not be as much into football, might not be into flag football, basketball, but she loves horse jumping. But I know nothing about horse jumping. The fact that she’s in on something like that, and the fact that I can support her in doing that, I’m all about it.”
Swisher added that Sailor is a cheerleader, another discipline in which he has no experience.
“She’s a flyer,” he said. “So I’m all about that, baby. I’m all about those girls catching her on the bottom. But once again, two things that I’ve never done in my life…I think if you let the kid lead the way and let you know what their passions are, I think that’ll help a long way down the road.”
Watching his daughters pursue their dreams is another reason he felt partnering with Ford and MLB made sense. During the 2026 campaign, Ford and MLB are launching a season-long celebration of baseball in America, which includes the automotive manufacturer investing in youth baseball and softball in the cities in which it operates.
“What makes this even better is, for me, as a girl dad, being able to have softball included in that as well,” Swisher explained. “So the fact that Ford is teaming up with MLB to just get kids playing the game more, I think it’s just absolutely amazing.”
Swisher added that he’s been excited to watch his daughters continue to grow their athletic interests in an era where leagues like Athletes Unlimited and the upcoming Women’s Pro Baseball League are expanding opportunities for women.
“It just seems like, right now, women’s sports are having a moment,” he said. “And I think just in general, the fact that Ford understands that and wants to jump into the party… For me, being able to be a girl dad, to have them reap the benefits, as well as the Little League baseball players, I think this is absolutely amazing.”
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