This past week the WPBL Countdown Tour kicked off in Fort Myers, Florida with WPBL x Boston Red Sox Spring Training ahead of the league’s inaugural season, beginning this August.
Over two days, 25 top players from across the WPBL’s First Four teams took part in intense training, building skills and establishing team dynamics that will be essential to the season ahead.
Training with Red Sox pros
The event took place at JetBlue Park: the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox. Former Red Sox players Keith Foulke and Doug Mientkiewicz were on field with the players for both days of training, providing valuable insight and clearly signalling the storied team’s commitment to the women’s game.
Meeting fans at WPBL Group Chat: LIVE! and WPBL FanFest
There were multiple opportunities for fans to connect with players throughout the event. On Wednesday night Amanda Gianelloni (WPBL San Francisco), Ashton Lansdell (WPBL Los Angeles), Kelsie Whitmore (WPBL San Francisco), and Mo’ne Davis (WPBL Los Angeles) took the DMs to the stage for the first edition of WPBL Group Chat: LIVE!, sharing their experiences as women in pro baseball, answering questions and mingling with fans. Ahead of Thursday’s Boston Red Sox game at JetBlue Park, women’s baseball fans were lined up to meet the players, take pictures and get autographs at WPBL FanFest.
A week of big news
Thursday marked two big milestones for the league. In the morning, Justine Siegal was officially announced as the first-ever Commissioner of the Women’s Pro Baseball League. In the afternoon, players closed out training with an exhibition game: donning black and white WPBL-branded jerseys designed by PROLOOK, the exclusive custom team partner of DICK’S Sporting Goods, marking the debut of the WPBL’s partnership with DICK’s Sporting Goods.
A great end to a great first event
To round out WPBL x Boston Red Sox Spring Training, WPBL players were honored on field ahead of Thursday’s Boston Red Sox game. Mo’ne Davis (WPBL Los Angeles) threw out the first pitch, marking the end of the first stop of the WPBL Countdown Tour.
More Countdown Tour events will be announced soon, allowing fans across the country to be a part of history as we count down the days to the inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League.