Japanese schoolgirl makes pro debut

[Young Drachma]

(Press play on the bottom not on the main part of the video)

Japanese schoolgirl strikes out one in pro debut - MLB - CBSSports.com Baseball

Japan's first female professional baseball player made her debut Friday, striking out one batter in the ninth inning of her team's first game of the season.
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Eri Yoshida, a 17-year-old who throws a sidearm knuckleball, took the mound in the ninth inning of Kobe 9 Cruise's 5-0 win over the Osaka Gold Villicanes in the newly-formed Kansai Independent League.

She walked the first batter leading off the inning on four pitches and allowed a stolen base before striking out the next batter swinging at Osaka Dome. She was then replaced after facing just two batters.

The 5-feet, 114-pound Yoshida is hoping to stick with the Kobe team. Friday's performance was far from conclusive but at least she has the first strikeout of her career.

"I wasn't thinking about anything other than just going out there and giving it my all," Yoshida said. "I think this was a bad result but the stadium is great and the fans were really cheering me on. I want to be able to pitch more innings and become a pitcher who can be relied upon."

Yoshida created a stir when she signed a contract in December to become Japan's first female professional baseball player.

Some speculated the move was more of a publicity stunt by the team to generate interest in the new league. There were 11,592 spectators in the 45,000-seat stadium for Friday's game

Yoshida, who started playing baseball when she was in second grade, said she wants to emulate Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who has built a successful major league career as a knuckleballer.

Until now, no woman had ever played against men in Japan. A women's professional baseball federation was established in 1950 but its activities ceased after two seasons.

The Cruise and the other three teams in the Kansai league are more like farm teams and are a far cry from Japan's mainstream pro teams such as the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants.

[Drake]

I did not think this thread would be about baseball when I clicked on the title.

[Young Drachma]

Oh don't you worry, before long..it'll be bumped someday for that, too.

[MJ4H]

Top 10 all-time disappointing thread-opens.

[OldGiants]

"How did your day go, hon?"

"I was struck out by a 17-year old girl."

[John Galt]

I know many will be disappointed reading the thread, but for baseball fans, two words have to jump out at you: "sidearm knuckleball." If a 17-year old truly had command of any knuckleball, that would be amazing. Add in sidearm and that would be incredible.

[Neuqua]

At five feet though? I know physical characteristics are not necessarily a big part of baseball at all, but that just seems too small. How's she going to handle charging first base with a big lumbering guy ready to plow her over to reach the bag.

I smell publicity stunt.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Neuqua

At five feet though? I know physical characteristics are not necessarily a big part of baseball at all, but that just seems too small. How's she going to handle charging first base with a big lumbering guy ready to plow her over to reach the bag.

If she does her job right, the same way any other pitcher does it - stay out of the basepath, touch the inside corner of the bag with the right foot, and push off towards the infield. But of course, she's a girl, so she'll probably scream and jump up on a chair.

I smell publicity stunt.

When you pass a bakery do you also smell bread?

[Toddzilla]

Ping: WrongWay

[Big Fo]

I suppose this is the result of Japan's better players coming to the US. Let them have the girl and we'll take Yu Darvish.

Actually it sounds like this is a bit of a joke league, having just started a year ago and only having four teams. This is below the second level of Japanese pro baseball. The logo doesn't scream world class either: