The 18-year-old Eri Yoshida, who played in a Japanese professional league last year, has signed with the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League. She is going to be the first female to pitch for a professional team in the United States since Ila Borders ten years ago. The knuckleball pitcher, who met with Red Sox star Tim Wakefield in Fort Myers during spring training, had a 0-2 record with an ERA of 4.03 in eleven games last season, allowing seven runs in 10 2/3 innings. Yoshida became the first female pro baseball player in Japan, when she played for Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai Independent League. She reports to spring training next month.
ESPN.com: Yoshida signs with Chico Outlaws
Official Press Release Chico Outlaws