FEMALE KNUCKEBALLER MAKES PRO DEBUT IN JAPAN

A 17-year-old high school girl made history by pitching against a men’s professional baseball team in Japan. Eri Yoshida, who throws a sidearm knuckleball, made her debut for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the independent Kansai League in a game against the Osaka Gold Villicanes at the Osaka Dome.


Yoshida, who was drafted and signed last winter by the first-year team, faced two batter in the ninth inning in front of 11.592 fans and curiosity-seekers at the 45,000-seat stadium. She walked the first batter she faced on four pitches and allowed a stolen base before she struck out the next batter swinging before being pulled from the contest, which was won by Kobe, 5-0.

Yoshida began playing baseball in the second grade, and wants to emulate Boston’s Tim Wakefield as a successful knuckleball pitcher. Until now, no woman had ever played against a men’s team in Japan, although there was a women’s professional league there in 1950 and 1951.

TEENAGE GIRL KNUCKLEBALLER PREPS FOR PRO DEBUT

The pro baseball debut of 17-year-old female pitcher Eri Yoshida is fast approaching. The 5’0” tall Yoshida is expected to pitch Tuesday, March 22 for the Kobe 9 Cruise in a Japanese independent league exhibition game against the Kishu Rangers in Wakayama. Kobe manager Yoshihiro Nakata has said he plans to pitch Yoshida in the inaugural Kansai League season opener for Kobe on the 27th against the Osaka Villicanes at the Kyocera Dome.


The drafting and signing late last year of Yoshida, who still attends high school, was considered by many a publicity stunt, but the 114-pounder raised eyebrows at a winter camp when the sidearming knuckleballer baffled a number of male batters. Her fastball has been clocked at 63 MPH, while her knuckler travels about 50 MPH.