Following a stellar performance during tryouts in August, Oakville High School senior Addie Frank was drafted on Nov. 20 by Los Angeles in the sixth round of the first-ever Women’s Pro Baseball League draft.

“I was so excited and very relieved. I didn’t believe it until it happened,” Frank said. “There is always this voice in my head saying, ‘Why me?’ or ‘How am I here right now?’ When my name came up for Los Angeles, the room just exploded. I’ve dreamed about being a professional baseball player for as long as I can remember and never thought it was going to be something possible for me, or for anyone, really, (as) this is the first professional league for women since 1954.”

The league, in its inaugural year, will feature four teams: Los Angeles, New York, Boston and San Francisco. Each team selected five players each round of the draft, bringing the total number of players in the new league to 120. As it’s an international league, women from all over the world were drafted, including Japan’s Ayami Sato — “a baseball legend,” per Frank — who will play alongside her for LA. 

Frank shared that practicing with her new team has been “a lot of fun,” though she remains focused on showing what she can do and making the final roster.

Despite all four teams representing a coastal city, the Women’s Pro Baseball League will be playing at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, this season, with a few possible exhibition games held in the four “home cities.” 

“I think they are still trying to figure out the league as they go … Details are still being worked out,” Frank explained. “I think they plan to have us play in our home cities starting in 2027, expanding to six teams.”

She added that though she was looking forward to the possibility of living in Los Angeles, playing in Illinois will make it easier for her family and friends to come watch.

“It feels like it’s all been worth it now. Even though I always loved to play baseball, being the only girl on boys’ teams was hard,” Frank said. “I’m excited to see the little girls in the stands. I want them to see me and realize they don’t have to stop playing baseball when they turn 12.”

As far as future goals, Frank hopes to one day play for Team USA.

To read more about Frank’s journey to the Women’s Pro Baseball League, check out previous reporting by The Call.