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Japanese female pitcher Yosida signs with U.S. men’s team

posted by Pretty Tough | Girls Who Are Fun Fierce & Feminine
Monday, April 12, 2010 at 4:43pm CDT

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A female pitcher from Japan, Eri Yoshida, signed on to play with an all-male minor league baseball team in the United States, reported the Associated Press on April 9. Yoshida will be playing for the Chico Outlaws, based in Chico, Calif. The team said she will report to spring training next month.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to pitch for the Chico Outlaws,” Yoshida said. “This is a dream come true for me and I hope I can contribute to the team and help them win and also to continue to improve as a pro baseball player.”

Ila Borders was the first female pitcher to play on a men’s professional baseball team back in 1998. Yoshida will be the first female to pitch for a pro team in the United States since Borders retired more than 10 years ago.

The 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida became Japan’s first female pro baseball player last year when she pitched for the Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai Independent League.

She was 0-2 in 11 appearances with a 4.03 ERA, giving up seven runs in 10 2/3 innings.

The team is making accommodations to provide separate locker room facilities and hotel rooms while traveling.

Yoshida learned how to throw a knuckleball by watching video of Tim Wakefield (FSY) and recently got a few tips from the Boston Red Sox pitcher at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

The 10-team Golden Baseball League is an independent minor league with teams in Arizona, California and Canada.

The Outlaws open on the road on May 21 in Tijuana and return for their home opener on May 26th.

We’re looking forward to following the career of this young trendsetter. You throw, girl!