PHOTOS! Here again are pictures of Japan’s famed pitcher Eri Yoshida. Eri Yoshida pics as the top knuckleball pitcher heated up LALATE two years ago.

This week Eri Yoshida met with U.S. knuckleballer Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox. Eri is the first female drafted in the Japanese majors by Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League.

Eri Yoshida Pictures

Eri Yoshida Photo 1

Eri Yoshida Photo 2

LALATE first profiled Eri at age 16 when she was signed to the team Kobe 9 Cruise. In 2009 she got her first start in the 9th inning against the Osaka Gold Villicanes.

She tells press this week:

“I think everything that he taught me is going to give me a chance to really work on what I need to work on. But also, I got a chance to meet him and it really gave me some courage and the confidence I need to really get back to training hard.”

In 2009 Eri Yoshida told press:

“I always dreamed of becoming a professional. I have only just been picked by the team and haven’t achieved anything yet.”

She attended Kawasaki Kita High School in Kanagawa Prefecture and was draft seventh round by the Kobe 9 Cruise.