With the lockout in full swing, news from the world of baseball is rare these days. Branch outside the scope of North America, however, and there’s still progress being made.
Genevieve Beacom made history by becoming the first female professional baseball player in Australia, tweets Andrew Riddell, the National Player Development Manager for Baseball Australia. The 17-year-old southpaw took the mound for the Melbourne Aces today, tossing a scoreless inning.
Beacom features a fastball that sits between 80-84 mph, complemented with a curveball that is her feature pitch. She also throws a changeup, notes former MLB pitcher Peter Moylan on the Farm To Fame podcast. Moylan, the head coach of the Aces, signed Beacom to a development contract with the Aces. He pitched for 12 years in Major League Baseball for the Braves, Royals, and Dodgers, last appearing with Atlanta in 2018.
Per the Aces release announcing her signing, Moylan spoke on Beacom making the roster, saying, “I have watched this young lady develop as a baseballer from her junior days, including playing for Victoria and Australia, and doing more than holding her own against the top baseballers in the Country and from around the world. If anyone thinks this is just a token selection, then they need to think again because she has 100% earned her spot on the development list with the Melbourne Aces.”
