NEW YORK — Kelsie Wilmore relieved the Staten Island FerryHawks, who had the bases loaded. Ryan Jackson, a former Major Leaguer, was also retired on Wednesday. Whitmore became the first woman to pitch in an independent Atlantic League league.
Days after breaking another barrier by starting in left fieldWhitmore had two outs in ninth against the Lexington Legends, giving her a chance to display her two-way abilities.
After trailing 3-1, Edgardo Alfonzo, Staten Island's manager, gave Whitmore the ball. This was Whitmore's first game in the 11th Staten Island game. Jackson was her opponent. She played 42 games with the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, and has not been in the major leagues since 2015.
Whitmore threw one ball and was then called for two strikes. Jackson, on the other hand, flied out to rightfield.
Whitmore was a right-handed hitter and thrower. On Sunday, Whitmore became the first woman in the Atlantic League to start a game. She has also been used pinch-running.
Whitmore, a former college softball player at Cal State Fullerton signed with Staten Island last week, which was one of many notable moments in women's baseball this season.
Alyssa Nakken was appointed first base coach of the San Francisco Giants last month. She became the first woman coach to be on the field at a major league baseball game. Rachel Balkovec, a woman who managed the Low-A Tampa Tarpons of the New York Yankees', won her debut as manager. She became the first woman to lead a team associated with a major league club.
Whitmore played outfield in the U.S. women’s baseball team's outfield from 2014-19. She also spent part of two seasons with Sonoma Stompers, an independent Pacific Association organization.
Although the Atlantic League teams do not have big league affiliates status, the circuit does have a MLB partner league. It is a step above the Pacific Association.
