Former England bowler Liam Plunkett makes pro baseball debut

Former England fast bowler Liam Plunkett made his professional baseball debut on Friday night, pitching for the Oakland Ballers against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds in the Pioneer Baseball League. The 41-year-old threw five pitches and struck out Josh Duarte in front of 1,878 fans at Raimondi Park, though his team lost 18-11.

Plunkett, who was a key member of England's 2019 50-over World Cup-winning team, emigrated to the United States five years ago. He currently plays in Major League Cricket (MLC), the country's T20 franchise tournament, as a member of the San Francisco Unicorns.

Unusual crossover

Plunkett is believed to be the first English cricketer to play professional baseball. He signed with the Ballers under the Pioneer League's marketing player exception, a rule allowing teams to add a non-prospect player — often a notable veteran — to their active roster. Plunkett's appearance is not expected to lead to a permanent switch to baseball.

During training with the Ballers, Plunkett tried batting but decided pitching suited him better, noting that the swing path in baseball is very different from cricket, especially against fast pitching. He previously performed ceremonial first pitches for MLB teams as part of his role as an MLC ambassador.

• Plunkett played 13 Tests, 89 ODIs, and 22 T20s for England, taking 201 international wickets.
• He was part of the England squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup on home soil.
• He has not yet appeared for the San Francisco Unicorns in the current MLC season.
• The Oakland Ballers are a minor league team in the independent Pioneer Baseball League.
• The marketing player exception allows non-prospects to bypass standard roster limits.

Plunkett's brief foray into baseball adds a unique chapter to his sporting career, but he remains committed to cricket with the Unicorns. Whether his debut sparks further opportunities in baseball remains to be seen, but for now, the 41-year-old can claim to have competed professionally in two bat-and-ball sports.