Aussie women ‘dropping everything’ to take major risk in America
A career in baseball has never been on the cards for women. Until this year, a chance to play in a professional women’s league was not an option anywhere in the world.
While many young girls would lean towards softball due to the professional avenues available globally, Australia’s Molly Paddison, Caitlin Eynon and Claire O’Sullivan stuck to their passion for its sister sport more commonly associated with men.
Molly Paddison in action. Molly Paddison
While all three were content playing in state or international competitions, a call-out posted on social media to join the first women’s professional baseball league (WPBL) in the United States in 72 years was just too hard for any of them to resist.
O’Sullivan and Eynon had full-time jobs when they submitted an application to trial for the league, while Paddison was just weeks away from graduating from high school.
There were a lot of unanswered logistical questions that caused the trio to have reservations about the competition, but with a little support from their family and friends, those fears were gone come draft day.
“Until I was 14 I didn’t know that women’s teams had existed,” Paddison, who rushed home from her year 12 graduation to watch the draft, told nine.com.au.
“I was just playing to have fun with the girls on a Saturday and then be competitive with the men on Sunday.
“I went back and forth (on the opportunity) and whether or not you take the risk into the unknown. The final answer was: You’d be stupid if you didn’t give it a go.
“You can always get money back, but you can’t get experiences like this back.”
O’Sullivan had a similar outlook on the opportunity.
“To be honest, I’m 31 now so this has never been a career that I wanted to pursue because it’s never been available to me,” she told nine.com.au.
“It was never even a thought that crossed my mind when I was a kid. Baseball was always going to be second-choice purely because I couldn’t make money from it.
“But I’ve dropped everything so that I could come do this because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me.”
More than 600 players from 10 countries attended the trials for the WPBL, with 120 players from that group informed they would be eligible for the draft.
O’Sullivan, Eynon and Paddison were selected in the draft and placed into one of the four inaugural teams. Paddison was drafted to Boston, Eynon to the Los Angeles Queens and O’Sullivan joined the New York Heights.
All four teams will play their 30 regular-season games in Illinois at Robin Roberts Stadium, with media rights, sponsorship and merchandise deals also locked in.
Paddison, 18, considers herself “pretty lucky” to be one of four Australians to be in the WPBL, while O’Sullivan is elated that young girls can now see there are professional pathways in baseball that they can pursue.
Caitlin Eynon in action in the first round of the WPBL. Caitlin Eynon
Eynon, 23, described the switch from softball to baseball as a “power move”.
“I don’t think there’d be half a dozen on my team that haven’t played softball at some point in their career,” she told nine.com.au.
“I did the exact opposite ... I loved being like the minority in that sense. I don’t think I played in my first all-female club team until I was like 16 - and by that age, most girls have already left (the sport completely).
“I really wanted to kind of put Australia on the map and actually turn people’s heads to what we have going on in Australia because we do have some really cool baseball players. Hopefully, they also get this opportunity that I have.”
There are still several aspects to the WPBL that will be fixed after the inaugural season is complete and changes will inevitably occur as the competition grows.
If there is any major learnings that the trio hopes organisers consider ahead of next season it is to allow teams to play games in their home state.
“Getting around to all the different areas of America would be great for the sport,” O’Sullivan said.
Claire O’Sullivan seen representing the New York Heights. Claire O'Sullivan
“At the moment we are in the one location for the whole season which limits the number of people who are able to see our games.
“Hopefully, this (league) keeps more kids in the game for longer.”
Eynon added: “Springfield’s not super well known for baseball, so being able to play in states that are known for baseball will get us the best exposure ... and help make the WPBL become more professional and exclusive.”
Paddison floated the idea of playing exhibition matches in other states if regular travel in-season was not an option.
While it is unclear when those hopes for the tournament might become a reality, the trio has the upmost respect for those who helped them get to where they are.
And while they have made history as the first Australians to play in the WPBL, the opportunity to represent the green and gold remains their greatest achievement.
“The Australian team was always a big dream that kept me going forward in baseball,” Paddison recalled.
Eynon agreed: “That’s still going to be the highlight of my career. There’s no other feeling like playing for your country.”
Since the first international tournament in 2004, there has been nine women’s baseball World Cups. Only Japan and the USA have ever won the tournament.
The next women’s World Cup is scheduled to take place in Illinois in July 2027.
Until the team selections for that tournament are announced, O’Sullivan, Eynon and Paddison will be focusing on their campaigns in the WPBL.
O’Sullivan’s New York side will take on Eynon’s LA team on Monday at 9.30am AEST. Paddison and Boston will face San Francisco at 9.30am on Sunday.
