CNN
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Historical past was made on Wednesday when the Kentucky Wild Well being Genomes drafted Alexis Hopkins, the primary lady ever drafted by an American skilled baseball staff for an on-field position, in line with the Atlantic League and MLB.com.
A catcher nicknamed “Scrappy” for her on subject work-rate, as per a Northwest Florida Day by day Information interview in 2015, Hopkins was drafted because the eighth decide within the annual Atlantic League draft.
Based in 1998, the Atlantic League is on the best stage {of professional} baseball excluding Main League Baseball (MLB) and is an official MLB associate league based mostly within the US’ South East area.
Over 40% of the league’s gamers have MLB expertise, and every year, the league averages over 50 participant contract gross sales to MLB organizations, in line with the league’s web site.
The Genomes – for whom Lindsay Gardner serves as a hitting guide – mentioned in an Instagram submit that a number of girls within the clubhouse would assist the staff to “proceed altering the face {of professional} baseball.”
“We’re extraordinarily excited to offer Scrappy a chance to play in Lexington and to be the primary feminine within the Atlantic League,” mentioned Genomes supervisor Mark Minicozzi, in line with Kentucky-based NBC affiliate LEX 18.
“We’re excited to see her begin her journey into skilled baseball,” Minicozzi added.
Requested throughout faculty to write down down a dream, Hopkins had shirked itemizing skilled baseball as a sensible goal.
“I’m actually enthusiastic about this,” Hopkins mentioned in a video tweeted by the Atlantic League.
“I used to be going to place down skilled baseball participant, however I truly didn’t as a result of I used to be like ‘That’s by no means gonna occur,’ however I assume right here we’re right now making a dream come alive.”
The Genomes are slated to play their first dwelling match of the season towards the staff they share Wild Well being Subject with, the Lexington Legends, on July 4.
