Liam Plunkett has become one of the few international cricketers to step into professional baseball after making his debut for the Oakland Ballers Minor League Team in the United States. The former England fast bowler, who helped his country lift the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, marked the occasion with a strikeout as he added another chapter to a career that continues to evolve alongside his cricket commitments in America.
A crossover between cricket and baseball
The opportunity came after Plunkett signed with the Ballers in the Pioneer Baseball League under the competition’s marketing player exception. The provision allows clubs to add a notable non-prospect player to their active roster outside the league’s standard eligibility requirements, creating opportunities for established athletes from other sporting backgrounds.
His first outing came against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds, where he threw five pitches and struck out Josh Duarte. Although Oakland suffered an 18-11 defeat, the former England international achieved an immediate milestone by recording a strikeout in his first professional baseball appearance.
From promotional appearances to professional competition
Plunkett had previously experienced baseball through ceremonial first-pitch appearances, but his latest outing represented his first opportunity to compete professionally in the sport. Speaking about the experience, he told BBC Sport, “I’ve previously done the ceremonial first pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins as part of being an MLC ambassador, but this is obviously a little bit more serious.”
The move also gave Plunkett the chance to become part of a unique group of athletes who have competed professionally in both cricket and baseball. He added, “I think I’m the first English cricketer to ever play a professional game of baseball. It’s obviously a few rungs below Major League Baseball but it’s still pretty cool to say I have played as a professional in two bat-and-ball sports.”
Learning a different discipline
Preparing for his debut involved more than taking the mound. Plunkett also tried batting during training before deciding his best opportunity to contribute would come as a pitcher.
He said, “The swing path when you bat is so different compared to cricket, especially when someone is pitching at 90mph.”
Plunkett added, “I’d have loved to hit a monster home run because that would have gone viral!”
Cricket remains at the centre of his career
While the baseball appearance attracted attention, Plunkett continues to pursue his cricket career after relocating to the United States five years ago. He was part of the San Francisco Unicorns squad in Major League Cricket from its inception until this season when he became an Ambassador and commentator for the MLC.
Before moving to the United States, Plunkett represented England in 13 Tests, 89 One-Day Internationals and 22 T20 Internationals, claiming 201 wickets across all three formats. His final international appearance came in the unforgettable 2019 World Cup final against New Zealand, where he took three wickets as England secured the title.
Reflecting on the outcome of his baseball debut, Plunkett said, “I mean I got that strikeout. I think the hitter didn’t know what was coming. I think it was a bit unusual, a mix between bowling and then pitching. Play first game, get a strikeout. What more could I ask for? Happy days!”
