French Teen Melissa Mayeux First Female Major Leaguer?

On April 15th 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when the Brooklyn Dodgers started the former Kansas City Monarchs star at first base. It was undoubtedly a milestone moment; not only in the history of baseball, but the annals of American sport.

Now, a French teen is looking to break down another long-standing barrier in popular professional sports. Only this time, it’s a matter of gender.

Melissa Mayeux, a 16-year-old shortstop who plays for the French U-18 Junior National Team, owns the distinction of being the first female baseball player to appear on MLB’s international registration list.

In an article by Lindsay Barra of MLB.com, MLB Director of International Game Development Mike McClellan was quoted as saying the following about Mayeux: “She’s a legitimate shortstop who makes all the plays and is very smooth and fluid in the field. She swings the bat really well and is fearless.”

Whether or not she is signed by a Major League club upon becoming eligible to do so on July 2nd remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Mayeux remains a legit prospect and potential trail blazer in the majors.

Kind of gives new meaning to the old adage/misogynist mantra, “You throw like a girl!”