Kelsie Whitmore Picked First in Women’s Pro Baseball League Draft

Springfield, Illinois — Kelsie Whitmore made history Thursday night as she was selected first overall by the San Francisco franchise in the inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) draft. Whitmore, 27, is returning to her roots, having played her first professional game in the Bay Area.

Joining her in the spotlight, Mo’ne Davis, a trailblazer from Philadelphia, was picked tenth by the Los Angeles team. At just 13 years old, Davis captured national attention at the 2014 Little League World Series as the first girl to win a game and pitch a shutout.

Whitmore, originally from San Diego, expressed her excitement about the opportunity, stating, “If you asked a six-year-old version of me about this opportunity happening right now, she would not believe you, but would be so, so, so excited for it.” She previously played for the Staten Island FerryHawks, becoming the first woman in the Atlantic League.

The draft included 120 players, and teams made five selections per round. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred opened the event by congratulating the WPBL for its launch, which is set to kick off on August 1, 2026. The league will host its games at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield.

In addition to Whitmore, the San Francisco team picked shortstop Joely Leguizamon from the Dominican Republic with their ninth overall pick. The Los Angeles team opted for Japanese ace Ayami Sato as the second overall pick, while New York selected U.S. infielder Kylee Lahners at third.

In her remarks after the draft, Whitmore emphasized her commitment to her hometown and the Bay Area. “I’m excited to be representing the city of San Francisco, where it all began for me,” she said. The expansion team demonstrated its ambition by selecting talented players, aiming for a championship.

The WPBL has been co-founded by Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach in Major League Baseball. This league marks the return of professional women’s baseball in the United States since the dissolution of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1954.

Drafts were streamed live, reaching fans at multiple locations across the country. Whitmore hopes her story will inspire young girls to pursue their dreams in baseball. “It gives them players they can look up to and shows them they can play baseball,” she noted.

The San Francisco franchise’s draft class, which featured players from six different countries, showcases the league’s diversity and potential for international talent.