Yoshida gets starting nod for Arizona winter ball opener

YUMA, Ariz. (Kyodo) Knuckleballer Eri Yoshida will start for the Yuma Scorpions in the opening game of the Arizona Winter League.

The 18-year-old Yoshida will start against Team Canada on Friday at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. She was highly praised by team manager Mike Marshall during four days of training with the Scorpions.

"I couldn't get the right feel of the ball until yesterday but now I am getting used to it," said Yoshida.

Yoshida became the first Japanese woman to play professional baseball alongside men when she made a relief appearance for Kobe 9 Cruise in the Kansai Independent League in March last year.

Yoshida made 11 game appearances before leaving the financially-troubled Kansai League after one season.

She will join the Mie Three Arrows of the new independent Japan-Future League next season if she decides to play in Japan after her stint in the Arizona Winter League, which runs until Feb. 27.