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Kelsie Whitmore

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Kelsie Whitmore
Whitmore (right) with the Staten Island FerryHawks in 2022
Oakland Ballers – No. 9
Pitcher / Outfielder
Born: (1998-07-05) July 5, 1998 (age 26)
San Diego, California
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Medals
Women's baseball
Representing  United States
Women's Baseball World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2014 Japan Team competition
Silver medal – second place 2024 Canada Team competition
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Team competition

Kelsie Ann-Gamboa Whitmore (born July 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher and outfielder for the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League. She was the first woman to appear in the starting lineup in an Atlantic League game. She was a member of the United States women's national baseball team from 2014 to 2019. Whitmore played college softball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans and has also played professionally for the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association and Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Youth career

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As a youth, Whitmore played Little League Baseball and PONY Baseball. She attended Temecula Valley High School in Temecula, California. She played for the school's baseball team, and was the only female on the team. She also played soccer and golf at Temecula Valley.[1][2] In 2017 Whitmore enrolled at California State University, Fullerton, where she received a scholarship to play college softball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. She was also allowed to train with the Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball team.[1] Whitmore received a fifth year of eligibility from the National Collegiate Athletic Association due to the cancellation of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021 season, she batted .395 with a .507 on-base percentage and a .824 slugging percentage. She was named the Big West Conference's softball player of the year.[3][4][5]

While she attended high school, Whitmore joined the United States women's national baseball team.[6] She won the silver medal at the 2014 Women's Baseball World Cup and the gold medal in the 2015 Pan American Games.[1] Whitmore also participated in the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup, as the United States finished in fourth place.[7] Playing for the national team from 2014 through 2019, she had a 1.35 earned run average as a pitcher.[8]

In October 2021, Whitmore joined the Portland Pickles of the West Coast League, a collegiate summer baseball league, when they played a two-game series against the Venados de Mazatlán of the Mexican Pacific League. In the second game, Whitmore pitched five innings without allowing a run.[9]

Professional career

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Sonoma Stompers

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In 2016, the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association, an independent baseball league, signed Whitmore and Stacy Piagno; they became the first female teammates in professional baseball since the 1950s when women played in the Negro Leagues.[10][11] She recorded her first professional hit on July 20.[12] She also played for Sonoma in the 2017 season. Whitmore had two hits in 26 at bats. She also pitched three innings for Sonoma.[13] Whitmore pitched to Anna Kimbrell during a game in 2016, forming the first all-female battery in a professional baseball league game since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.[14][15]

Staten Island FerryHawks

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On April 8, 2022, Whitmore signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[16] She debuted in the Atlantic League as a pinch runner on April 22[17] and became the first woman to start an Atlantic League game on May 1, playing as a left fielder.[13] On May 4, Whitmore became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game when she made her first pitching appearance for Staten Island; entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs, she retired Ryan Jackson, a former major leaguer, on a fly out to end the inning.[18] For the 2022 season, Whitmore batted .026 (a single in 39 at-bats), while on the mound allowed 14 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for a 12.19 ERA. She became a free agent after the season.

On April 18, 2023, Whitmore re-signed with Staten Island for the 2023 season.[19] As a pitcher, she made 13 relief outings for the club, struggling to a 9.49 ERA with 4 strikeouts across 12+1⁄3 innings pitched. As a batter, she appeared in 25 games, going 0–for–14 with one walk.

Oakland Ballers

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Whitmore pitching toward the camera
Kelsie Whitmore debuting with the Oakland Ballers.

On April 10, 2024, Whitmore signed with the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League.[20] She became the first woman to play for that league later that year. On June 6, 2024, she became the first female player to start a Pioneer League game. In that game she struck out one batter.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "CSF softball recruit Kelsie Whitmore eyes a baseball career". Orange County Register. July 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Pope, Dennis (February 5, 2016). "GIRLS SOCCER: Thanks to her great hands, Kelsie Whitmore quickly becomes a standout goalkeeper". Press Enterprise. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Tracy, Jeff (April 11, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore has made it higher in pro baseball than any woman in over 20 years". Axios. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Megdal, Howard (April 8, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore signs to play in Atlantic League: How it happened". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  5. ^ Ashame, Betelhem (May 19, 2022). "Her baseball journey has just begun. Stay tuned". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "ZINK: Gortarez, Whitmore making an impact for U.S. baseball". Press Enterprise. March 10, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Women's Baseball World Cup: USA falls to Canada; Japan wins title". Floridatoday.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Kelsie Whitmore breaks new ground in FerryHawks' starting lineup". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "First female player joins Portland Pickles baseball team". koin.com. October 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "2 Women Play For Sonoma Stompers Baseball Team : The Two-Way". NPR. October 31, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Baer, Bill (June 29, 2016). "Kelsie Whitmore signs with the Sonoma Stompers, an independent league team". Mlb.nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "Kelsie Whitmore makes history as she collects her first hit with the Sonoma Stompers". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Kelsie Whitmore becomes first woman to start game in Atlantic League of Professional Baseball". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "After three weeks, the female players on the Sonoma Stompers are still making history". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "Kelsie Whitmore becomes first woman to start Atlantic League game". USA Today. April 24, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "'I'm ready': Kelsie Whitmore to play for FerryHawks". MLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  17. ^ Farlow, Rick. "Kelsie Whitmore makes baseball history for Staten Island FerryHawks". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  18. ^ Randhawa, Manny (May 4, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore makes history pitching for FerryHawks". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  19. ^ @FerryHawks (April 18, 2023). "The FerryHawks are proud to announce the return of Kelsie Whitmore! Last year, Kelsie made history right here on Staten Island as the first woman to play in a professional MLB affiliated league. Welcome back to #HawkCity Kelsie!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Oakland Ballers sign team's first female player". April 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Lockard, Melissa. "Kelsie Whitmore first woman to start Pioneer League game" – via NYTimes.com.
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