Since 2010, a rumor had been circulating on the fields of France. A rumor that was spreading as fast as she was hitting: that of a girl who played « as strong as a boy ». On the dusty lawns and still confidential diamonds, a name was circulating, carried by a recognizable silhouette: a helmet from which long blonde hair escaped, a swing as lively as a thunderclap. Melissa Mayeux was still just a teenager, but already, she was making the entire French baseball scene vibrate.
Then, in 2015, the earthquake. A real media tsunami. Her name appeared on the list of 500 prospects likely to join the MLB one day. The MLB! The temple. The American dream. And that day, Melissa Mayeux became the first woman in History to be included.
Today, the dream continues. And it takes the form of a new line in the History of women’s sports: the draft of the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), which is set to start in Springfield, Illinois. This time, it’s women’s baseball, real, pro, serious. The United States is relaunching the adventure – a professional competition for women. Four attempts in a century; the longest lasted only eleven years. The WPBL, the fifth of its kind, wants to finally make this ambition last.
And Melissa Mayeux, 27, will be part of this epic. She will wear the colors of the New York team.
The Frenchwoman didn’t get there by chance. In ten years, she has accumulated exploits like others line up home runs: softball titles in the Sun Belt, MVP, a magnificent NCAA career in Louisiana in 2019, leadership in gold with the French women’s baseball team, which she led to first place in Europe the same year. Amidst all this, professionalism like the contract with the Vipers, confirmation that Melissa is not just a phenomenon — she’s a pioneer.
Baseball TV France went to meet this warrior, this diamond player who slides from softball to baseball with the same elegant rage. An athlete who has never stopped tracing her own baseline. And who, today, is preparing to write one of the most anticipated chapters in women’s sports worldwide.
BTVF : Can you tell us how this Draft adventure started and the hopes you had at the beginning?
I had heard about the creation of this professional league last year. Out of curiosity rather than a real goal, I signed up for the try-outs. Originally, they were supposed to take place in November this year, but they were finally moved up to August. At that time, I was with the French team at the European Championships, so it was impossible for me to participate physically.
We sent a video, without too many expectations either. It had been a long time since I had recent statistics in baseball, since I hadn’t been competing in it. The idea was really to try, to see if it could work, without getting my hopes up too high.
Of course, I believed in it a little, because since I started playing baseball, this sport has never left me. Baseball has always been my first sport, my first love. So yes, I hoped, but in a reasonable way.
BTVF : Can you explain this future championship, its creation, and its operation, and how you position yourself in all of this?
For now, we don’t have much precise information. What we know is that the season should last about seven weeks, with two games per week.
Initially, the championship was supposed to start in May. We were then told that the launch could finally take place in August.
After that, everything can still evolve until the official start, so we’re waiting for the final confirmations.
BTVF : Since 2015, when your name appeared on an American list: 10 years of baseball and softball, and now baseball again. What do you take away from this journey?
Luck. Yes, I feel lucky, really. From the beginning, I’ve had a journey that I never could have imagined. If someone had told me ten years ago that I’d be where I am today, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’m moving forward, and I still don’t know what the future holds, but I feel grateful to have had all these opportunities: first thanks to baseball, then thanks to softball, which has given me a lot over the past ten years.
I feel lucky, yes, but I also know that I’m giving myself the means. I make a lot of sacrifices to go as far as possible. And in sports, what’s beautiful is that these sacrifices always end up paying off.
BTVF : Your career is impressive for young French players. What advice would you give them to better understand the development of women’s baseball or softball?
Regarding the younger ones, I would always tell them the same thing: since I was little, I’ve always thought that you have to give it your all, all the time, because you never really know what can happen.
The professional league, for example, is something that came out of nowhere. I thought that for me, baseball was over, that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to play again. And finally… it’s back. As you can see, you never know.
So yes: give it your all, every time.
Listen to advice and opinions, of course, but in the end, it’s something personal. If you feel that there’s something to try, something that’s calling you, then give yourself the means and go for it full force.
If it works, great.
If it doesn’t work, it often opens other doors, different, but just as important.
So really: don’t give up and go for it full force.
BTVF : What can we wish you?
For the future, honestly… I don’t really know. The goal is just for everything to continue going well, for me to be able to play for as long as possible, and for the project to reach its conclusion.
I’ve always had a somewhat clear idea of what I wanted to do in the long term, where I wanted to go. But recently, everything has been turned upside down, so now I’m taking it one day at a time.
What I do know is that I’ll give it my all until the end. Regardless of the opportunities, whether it’s in baseball or softball, both are fine with me. The essential thing is to keep playing and go as far as possible.
Photo credits: Rs and C.M.
