Kelsie Whitmore shares sweet response after joining Savannah Bananas as first woman to start in Atlantic League

Kelsie Whitmore, who became the first woman to start in an Atlantic League game in 2022, has officially joined the Savannah Bananas for their 2025 Banana Ball season. Whitmore is a former member of the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team (2014 to 2019).

In the Atlantic League, she represented Staten Island FerryHawks and in the Pioneer League, she has played for the Oakland Ballers. Whitmore has also played for the Sonoma Stompers and at Cal State Fullerton (college softball).

On Saturday, ESPN updated Whitmore's move to Banana Ball with some photos and the following caption:

"Kelsie Whitmore is blazing a trail in baseball, and we are loving every second of her journey 👏"

The same post also mentions that Whitmore is signed to the women's professional baseball league, which is set to have its inaugural season in 2026.

Under the comments section, Whitmore shared her gratitude for the love she has been receiving.

"Appreciate the love 🤘🏽"

Whitmore's response in the comments section of the post via @espnw

Banana Ball is like baseball, but with funnier rules than the original sport. The league has taken the country by storm and is increasing in popularity for its entertainment value.

Kelsie Whitmore on signing with Women's Professional Baseball League

On July 11, the Women's Professional Baseball League announced the signing of Kelsie Whitmore. She shared that she’s thrilled not just to play, but to represent a broader movement for female athletes in baseball.

"Joining the WPBL is not only an exciting opportunity for myself, but even more important to recognize how great this is for the younger generation of girls who play baseball," Whitmore said. "I am excited to be a part of a league where I feel accepted and valued in. Most of all, I can't wait to compete with other women who love the game as much as I do."

Whitmore aims to be one of the top WPBL's draft picks in 2025. She'll be preparing for the WPBL's inaugural tryouts, which are set to take place from August 22nd at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Washington, D.C.

About the author

Krutik Jain is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. It was in 2018 when the baseball bug bit Krutik, and already a cricket fan, he credits baseball's rules and Clayton Kershaw's pitching to have hooked him to the game.

A Kershaw and Mookie Betts fan, Krutik rates his favorite team LA Dodgers triumphing over Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series as his best baseball moment so far. His answer to the perennial "one player from the past you could meet" question is Jackie Robinson. Despite never having seen him play, Robinson's impact, legacy and trail-blazing journey have left an indelible impact on Krutik.

A rigorous fact-checker, Krutik likes reporting on the technical aspects of the game as well as off-field elements. When not watching baseball, Krutik is busy playing cricket, staying up to date with the happenings around the world and hiking.

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Edited by Dipayan Moitra