Born: 1992 (Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan)
Biography:
Eri Yoshida ( , Yoshida Eri, born January 17, 1992) is a Japanese professional baseball player known for her sidearm knuckleball pitching. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, Yoshida showed her determination and passion for the sport from a young age. At just 14 years old, she taught herself how to throw the knuckleball after watching Major League Baseball pitcher Tim Wakefield on television.
Standing at a height of 1.55 meters (5 ft 1 in), Yoshida possesses incredible talent and skill on the baseball field. Her pitches have been clocked at an impressive speed of 101 kilometers per hour (63 mph), while her knuckleball pitch measures around 50 mph. Her prowess as a pitcher was apparent during her time as a high school sophomore at Kawasaki-kita Senior High School in Kawasaki, where she impressed with her knuckleball and earned a place on the school’s baseball team.
Yoshida’s success on the baseball diamond quickly gained attention nationwide, leading the media to affectionately dub her the Knuckle Princess. In 2008, at the age of 16, she etched her name in the history books by becoming the first woman ever drafted by a Japanese men’s professional baseball team. This groundbreaking achievement paved the way for future generations of women in the sport and brought attention to the talents and abilities of female athletes worldwide.
In pursuit of her dreams, Yoshida signed a contract to play for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League in 2008. On March 26, 2009, she made her professional baseball debut at the Osaka Dome in front of a crowd of 11,592 fans. In that game, she faced two batters, walking the first and striking out the second, contributing to a 5-0 victory over the Osaka Gold Villicanes.
Following her time with the Kobe 9 Cruise, Yoshida aimed to continue her professional baseball journey and prove herself further. She had an opportunity to showcase her skills against the top hitters of the Hiroshima Carp on November 24, 2009. In her next endeavor, Yoshida joined the Arizona Winter League, a platform intended to give players overlooked in major league drafts the chance to perform in front of professional scouts. On February 12, 2010, she secured her first win in Arizona Winter League play, throwing four shut-out innings in a 5-0 triumph for her team, the Yuma Scorpions, against Team Canada.
The Golden Baseball League, the major independent minor league in western North America, recognized Yoshida’s talent and potential, and she was offered a contract by the Chico Outlaws on February 28, 2010. This opportunity presented Yoshida with the chance to showcase her skills on an international stage. Managing the Outlaws was former major league all-star Garry Templeton, and the team president and general manager was former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mike Marshall.
To further enhance her abilities, Yoshida trained with Tim Wakefield at the Boston Red Sox minor league training facility on March 2, 2010. This experience provided her with invaluable insights and guidance from one of the best knuckleball pitchers in the history of the sport. On April 8, 2010, Yoshida signed a contract with the Chico Outlaws, making history as the first female professional baseball player in the United States since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1950s.
Yoshida’s dedication, perseverance, and sheer talent have not only broken barriers and inspired countless individuals but have also played a significant role in women’s history in the world of sports. Her achievements as a female professional baseball player have shattered stereotypes and paved the way for future generations of women to pursue their dreams in traditionally male-dominated sports. Eri Yoshida is a living testament to the power of determination and the boundless possibilities that exist when passion and talent intersect.