A Milestone for Women’s Baseball
Beth Greenwood, a University of Rochester graduate, is poised to rewrite the record books as part of the inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL). The Boston Hunters selected her in the third round of the league’s first draft, assigning her to catcher duties while also appointing her as Director of Baseball Development at Baseball For All.
The WPBL will open its schedule on August 1 in Springfield, Illinois, featuring franchises that bear the names of historic women such as Harriot Hunt, Lizzie Murphy, Dorothy Height and Lillie Hitchcock Coit. Teams from New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco will converge on the Midwest for the opening round, a move that underscores the league’s national ambition.
Greenwood’s journey to the mound is marked by several firsts. She became the first American woman to catch in an NCAA game, a milestone that paved the way for her subsequent role as a Minor League Development coach with the Phillies organization. Since 2018 she has been a staple of the USA Women’s National Baseball team program, contributing to a silver‑medal performance at the 2024 World Cup that lifted the team to second place in the WBSC rankings.
Beyond the field, Greenwood now oversees Baseball For All, an organization founded by Justine Siegal that has expanded to include 900 girls this year. Her dual responsibility blends on‑field play with a commitment to grow the sport at the grassroots level, a mission that resonates with young athletes across the country.
The league’s broadcast plan adds another layer of visibility: all games will stream live on YouTube, with a best‑of‑five Championship Series slated for late September. For Greenwood’s parents, the prospect of watching their daughter compete is especially poignant; her mother, who has faced mobility challenges, plans to travel to the games, turning a personal hurdle into a source of inspiration.
Back in Rochester, Greenwood has returned to the university’s batting cages to fine‑tune her swing, a routine that reflects both her alma mater’s support and her relentless work ethic. The upcoming season promises not only competitive play but also a narrative of perseverance that could reshape perceptions of women in professional baseball.