Here�s something else that the Japanese nation can be proud of: 18-year-old Eri Yoshida is going to play pro ball in the United States! The pitcher learned knuckleball with Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox right-hander, during spring training. That in itself is something else!
Next month, Yoshida will be living the life which is only a dream to many � both male and female. She has signed her contract with Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. She will be joining their training camp in May. Believe it or not, she isn�t the first woman to pitch professionally for the U.S. Prior to Yoshida, there was Ila Borders, who has been retired for more or less 10 years now.
What does the young girl have to say about all this? Yoshida says that she is �grateful for this opportunity. 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.�
Indeed, this is something that does not happen everyday. Yoshida is a mere five feet tall and 114 pounds (although you don�t really have to be physically big to play pro baseball) and might be taken lightly by unbelievers. The team is quite excited to have her play, though, and fans even more so.
Despite the odds, things are looking good for this young baseball player. She has a good track record and at her age, she has so much to look forward to.