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Knuckleballing Japanese schoolgirl gets drafted

Benjamin Grimm Nov 17 2008 07:00 PM

This is interesting... ="Associated Press"]Knuckleballing Japanese schoolgirl gets drafted 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida wants to emulate Red Sox pitcher Wakefield TOKYO - A 16-year-old schoolgirl is making a pitch to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan. High school student Eri Yoshida was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a professional team in a new independent Japanese league that starts its first season in April. “I always dreamed of becoming a professional,” Yoshida said at a news conference Monday. “I have only just been picked by the team and haven’t achieved anything yet.” Yoshida threw a hitless inning against male batters during a tryout this month and was among 33 players picked in the draft. <img src="http://nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com/j/apmegasports/200811170632235761110-pf.widec.jpg">

Frayed Knot Nov 17 2008 07:26 PM

Large hands is usually an advantage in throwing the flutterball and, even though the Japanese ball is slightly smaller than MLB's, I can't imagine a 5-footer has very big paws.