First Woman Drafted by Japanese Pro Baseball Team

(AP Photo/Kyodo News)

The knuckleball. It's considered one of the most difficult pitches to learn and even harder to throw with success. Maybe not for Eri Yoshida, who has used her unorthodox side-arm version of the pitch to make history. Earlier this week, the 16 year old, became the first woman drafted by a Japanese pro baseball team. Think she could strike you out? Check out the video.

WATCH HER PITCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ_140u_ljw&feature=related

Yoshida was selected by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a team part of a low-budget, independent Japanese baseball league that will debut in April. At a news conference on Monday, her future manager, Yoshihiro Nakata, told the media what makes her style of pitching so special,

"Her side-arm knuckleballs dip and sway, and could be an effective weapon for us."

As for inspiration...How 'bout fellow knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox. Yoshida says after watching a video of Wakefield pitching, she wanted to follow in his footsteps. A flattered Wakefield relayed this text to The Associated Press:

"Hope I can see her pitch one day," I'm honored that someone wants to become me. I wish her the best of luck. Maybe I can learn something from her."

Maybe he can? In her final tryout, the 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida held male batters hitless for one inning.

"I never dreamed of getting drafted. I have only just been picked by the team and have not achieved anything," she said. "I want to play as a pro eventually in a higher league."

But it seems she'll have to work on a couple of things if she wants to get to that next level. She needs to add a fastball to her repertoire and work on getting ahead in the count. Nevertheless, she's got time. She's only 16 and has made it this far.

Something to consider though, the Kobe 9 Cruise is not the Yomiuri Giants. And in some cases, making the Kobe 9 Cruise team is probably more like landing a spot on a farm team than loosening up in the Red Sox bullpen.