Raine Padgham Invited to Groundbreaking Women’s Pro Baseball Tryouts

UPDATE: Abbotsford’s rising baseball star Raine Padgham has received a coveted invitation to the inaugural tryouts for the newly established Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL), set to take place from August 22 to 25, 2023, in Washington, D.C. This groundbreaking event marks the return of women’s professional baseball tryouts after more than 80 years, stirring excitement among athletes and fans alike.

Padgham, a current student at UBC, will hit the field on August 24 after being granted a bye for the first two days of the tryouts due to her extensive experience in the sport. Approximately 600 players are expected to compete for 150 spots in the league’s inaugural draft scheduled for October.

“This is more than a tryout – it’s a moment of long-overdue recognition for the incredible talent that has gone unseen for far too long,” said Justine Siegal, a co-founder of WPBL, in an interview with CBS. The league is partnering with the Washington Nationals for these historic tryouts, signaling a robust support system for women’s professional baseball.

Padgham is no stranger to breaking barriers in baseball. She helped Canada secure a bronze medal at the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals last summer and made history as the first girl to play on both girls and boys teams at the Western Canadian Baseball Championships. In 2019, she became the first female player on the Fraser Valley Cardinals bantam team and was recognized as one of the Canadian Baseball Network’s Most Influential Canadians in Baseball.

The WPBL’s inaugural season is slated to kick off in May 2026, featuring six teams and a regular season extending over approximately seven weeks. Games will be seven innings long, with players using aluminum bats. The league will provide housing and visas, and payment will be based on draft selection, alongside opportunities for revenue sharing from sponsorships.

Padgham is not only known for her exceptional pitching skills but also her versatility as a shortstop. She aims to join the UBC Thunderbirds baseball team for the 2025/26 season, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing women’s sports. Her journey continues to inspire young athletes, highlighting the growing recognition of women in traditionally male-dominated sports.

As the WPBL prepares for its groundbreaking tryouts, fans and supporters are encouraged to follow Padgham’s journey and the league’s developments closely. This is a pivotal moment for women’s baseball, and the world is watching.