A few months ago Rachel Balkovec made her mark in the Major Leagues by becoming the first manager to lead a Minor League club. Now, Kelsie Whitmore takes a huge step that brings women closer to MLB diamonds.
On April 8, Whitmore signed a deal with the State Island FerryHawks, organization belonging to the Atlantic League, the most important professional baseball league in the United States.
Whitmore’s deal takes on added significance when you consider that the Atlantic League signed a deal with Major League Baseball in September 2020 and became MLB’s first partner organization. Given this, Whitmore is the first player to play in a league associated with MLB.
Gary Perone, general manager of the FerryHawks, took credit for hiring Whitmore and revealed for MLB.com the words that the ballplayer (who has played as an outfielder and pitcher in the nascent campaign) addressed him when he arrived in Staten Island six weeks ago.
“I’m here because, first, I love this game, and second, I want to keep playing,” Whitmore said. at the time of your hiring. “If you go out and ask any of the guys what they’re doing here, my answer is the same,” she explained. “We all love this and we all follow the same dream.”
Changing the rules of professional baseball is nothing new for Whitmore. Between 2014 and 2019 he was part of the American team of the discipline and won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games, as well as a plant at the Women’s World Cup, held in 2014.
As if the above were not enough, in 2016 and 2017 he proved professionalism by wearing the Sonoma Stompers flannel, ninth incorporated into the Pacific Association, a more discreet organization than the Atlantic League. To gauge the importance of her feat, she and Stacy Piagno were the first teammates to be part of a professional team since the 1950s, when women participated in the Negro Leagues.
Upon his arrival at the FerryHawks, he left his mark by being the first female starter in an Atlantic League match (event that happened on May 1). Three days later she became the first pitcher in the organization’s history.
Whitmore’s preponderance in baseball is as great and even Rob Manfred, boss of the majorshe dedicated a letter where he recognizes his contribution to the discipline.
“I have followed your professional career with great enthusiasm and I appreciate your important contributions to the women’s national baseball team,” wrote the commissioner, who also described it as, “An inspiration to baseball fans, especially women who dream of playing professionally.”
