The inaugural Women’s Pro Baseball League draft has concluded, with GB Senior Women’s National Team player Laura Hirai selected by Boston.
Ever feel like you’re not fulfilling your potential? Well, that’s not something that could ever be levelled at Laura Hirai. Who is a living, breathing superstar.
Take her LinkedIn profile for starters…
“Cyber security specialist during the day. Aspiring Olympian in the early morning, evening and night. Arabic and Spanish B.A. from Swarthmore College, PA USA. Fluent in Japanese and English.”
She was one of the VIPs at the recent coaching conference I attended, and my Bat Flips & Nerds article reads “Laura is a superstar. Baseball superstar (tick), Softball superstar (tick), GB coach (tick), Committee superstar (tick), Trail blazer (tick) – plus she’s really cool.”
Can you tell I’m a fan?
The name Laura Hirai is synonymous with British baseball and softball. Fresh off helping GB Women snag European Baseball gold this summer, she barely had time to frame the medal before switching over to GB Softball duty to pick up a European bronze. Not a bad few months’ work.
Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL)
Excitement for women’s baseball is set to reach levels not witnessed since the “A League of their Own” era in the late 40s/early-50s, with the launch of new professional women’s baseball league in the United States.
The WPBL, which begins in August 2026, comprises four teams: Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The inaugural draft was held earlier this month (November 2025), with Boston selecting Laura.
The WPBL isn’t pulling any punches with their profile…
Hirai may be one of the most important figures for European baseball in this draft. She fell in love with the sport while living in Japan as a child, then became the first—and still only—female athlete to represent Great Britain in U18 baseball, pitching at European Championships in 2015 and 2017. At the same time, she represented Great Britain in softball, eventually becoming the first athlete to actively play both sports for the national programs. This past summer she helped GB’s women win baseball gold and softball bronze in Europe, qualifying both squads for World Cup stages. Boston gets a right-hander who has been a “first” nearly everywhere she’s gone.
And GB Women Head Coach Pietro Sollecito is also a fan…
“British baseball is blessed to have that rare combination of grit and talent that is Laura Hirai. I have stopped being amazed by her accomplishments in the sport. The WPBL is exactly where Laura belongs and we are so excited that this opportunity now exists for all those Lauras who dream the biggest dreams!”
With former GB head coach Liam Carroll strutting his stuff at Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox High-A affiliate) and now Laura representing Boston, it’s tough for a British fan with no team allegiance, not to want great success for the Red Sox franchise.
Anyway, huge congratulations for Laura from the Bat Flips & Nerds team.
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