Claire Eccles did not hear her name called in an arena. She saw it on a screen.
On Nov. 20, the former Victoria HarbourCats pitcher was drafted by New York in the second round – 38th overall – of the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) draft.
“I had a bit of a personal goal or hope that I would go top 40,” Eccles told Victoria News. “So that was cool. But more than anything, it was exciting just to be considered a part of the league in its first season.”
(Photo courtesy of WPBL New York/Facebook)
The left-handed pitcher from Surrey was one of 20 Canadians selected into the four-team league, which includes clubs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston.
The WPBL will be the first professional women’s baseball league since the All-American Girls Professional League folded in 1954.
Its inaugural season is scheduled to begin in August and run eight weeks, including playoffs.
While Eccles has been drafted and offered a contract, she has not yet signed and has not confirmed she will play for New York during the 2026 season.
She said the decision comes down to balancing work, family and the commitment of leaving home for eight weeks.
“There’s lots to consider,” Eccles said. “I’m obviously honoured to be drafted, but eight weeks is a long time to put life on pause. New York has been great to me so far, they’ve been really accommodating. I hope we can make it work.”
Regardless of whether she suits up for New York, her name is synonymous with baseball in Victoria.
Eccles became the first woman to play in the West Coast League when she joined the Victoria HarbourCats in 2017.
Over two seasons, she made 11 appearances, posting a 2-0 record with two starts and nine relief outings, striking out three batters.
In the summer of 2017, Claire Eccles became the first woman to play in the WCL. (Photo courtesy of Christian Stewart/Victoria HarbourCats)
In June 2019, the HarbourCats retired her No. 8 jersey, making her the first player in franchise history to receive that honour.
“It was a huge honour for me to play there,” Eccles said. “Not only to play there, but to have my number retired there, sometimes it’s hard to believe that happened.”
While the opportunity provided a surreal experience, pressure formed, along with expectations.
“Looking back on Victoria, it was a time I’ll never forget, but at the same time, I felt like it was a lot of pressure,” she said. “It felt like a lot sometimes. I struggled with feeling like I needed to always be the best at it, just given the opportunity I had.”
“I actually ended up taking a bit of time off from pitching and mainly playing outfield and hitting,” she said, reflecting on her time in Victoria. “I really enjoyed that.”
Returning to pitching later, with less pressure, helped her rediscover confidence and effectiveness.
“I’ve put a lot less pressure on myself, and I’ve actually found that all my pitching has been better,” she said. “My trust in my knuckleball is back.”
In the same breath, she remembers the support as much as the baseball.
“What sticks out to me the most was the support I received – from the fans, from the organization and from the guys on the team,” she said.
“There were a couple times where we were losing by, you know, 10 runs and I was put in and all of a sudden the crowd was cheering and really excited,” Eccles added. “It’s really cool that people were rallying behind me.”
Today, Eccles works full time with Canada Soccer as the women’s national team equipment manager, overseeing programs from the senior team down to youth levels.
The role, which includes extensive travel during FIFA windows, is one factor she must weigh before committing to the league.
On the diamond, she continues to train and play when possible, taking part in workouts with other drafted players and staying connected to Baseball Canada opportunities.
Eccles now works full time with Canada Soccer as their equipment manager. (Photo courtesy of Christian Stewart/Victoria HarbourCats)
For Victoria fans who watched her break barriers at Royal Athletic Park, Eccles hopes they follow along with the league, whether or not she ultimately takes the field in New York.
“I really, really loved the city,” she said. “People were always super supportive, even in tough games. I’m really thankful for that experience, and I hope people continue to support women’s baseball and all the talented players out there.”
The WPBL will kick off its inaugural season on Aug. 1.
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