Mt. Vernon Pitcher Goes No. 1 in Big League Whiffle Ball Draft

If you're like me, you probably remember playing whiffle ball at recess. Sure, it wasn't a real baseball, but it was as close as you could get. Well, in 2026, whiffle ball has come a long way with multiple professional leagues across the nation. One of those leagues recently held its draft, and an Eastern Iowa pitcher heard his name called number one overall!

Mt. Vernon Pitcher Selected First in BLW Draft

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the inaugural Big League Whiffle Ball league draft was held back on April 18th. Sure, it didn't get the national attention of, say, the NFL Draft, but here in Eastern Iowa it turned out to be a big deal! That is because Mt Vernon senior Cael Foreman was selected with the first overall pick by the San Diego Orcas.

What is Professional Whiffle Ball?

If you've never heard of professional whiffle ball, just head to YouTube. That is what Foreman did. He discovered the sport online, started playing in his backyard, and, according to the Gazette, started attending tournaments across the country. So, how is professional whiffle ball different from baseball? The Gazette reports that teams are made up of seven players and play inside a scaled-down stadium. Batters used plastic bats, and pitchers can create some crazy movement of the ball!

Big League Whiffle Ball on ESPN

The BLW is a relatively new league, but it has some big-time names behind it. The Gazette reports that the Orcas, the team that drafted Foreman, was recently purchased by rap star Nelly and former NFL star Julio Jones and is moving to Georgia. The eight-team league will begin play this summer and will have its games seen on the ESPN family of networks.

Not bad for a game mastered in your backyard!