Mo’Ne Davis prepared America for the possibility of a female playing baseball at a high level, and now we’re learning that we might be even closer to seeing that happen than we initially believed.
MLB.com’s Lindsay Berra reports that French teenager Melissa Mayeux has been added to MLB’s international registration list, which means she will be eligible to be signed come July 2. Though it’s unlikely Mayeux, 16, will be signed especially this young, this is signals how good she is; only players who are actual prospects usually would be added to the list.
Mayeux is a shortstop and plays for the French U-18 junior national team. She has been in the program for two years since joining the U-15 club. She is hoping to have a future in baseball.
“I would like very much to continue playing baseball in France until I’m 18 years old and then have the ability to leave for university or another opportunity abroad,” Mayeux said via MLB.com. “I’d like to stay in baseball as long as possible.”
Mayeux is so talented that she also plays on the French senior national softball team, meaning she adjusts between hitting overhand and underhand pitching. She also was one of only four players from her team picked to participate in MLB’s European Elite Camp in August. Melissa’s older brother Dylan plays for the U-19 national team and may end up on the senior national team before long.
MLB Director of International Game Development Mike McClellan tells MLB.com’s Berra that Melissa could end up playing the World Baseball Classic for France at some point during her life. He speaks very highly of her.
“She’s a legitimate shortstop who makes all the plays and is very smooth and fluid in the field,” he said. “She swings the bat really well and is fearless.”
Below is some video of Mayeux playing. She has a nice swing and is very clearly a ballplayer.
She has a really good arm and at 13 was the first female on one of the national teams:
She’s very smooth in the field:
