Move over Fernando Mendoza, there’s another franchise-changing No. 1 pick.
Mount Vernon senior Cael Foreman was the top pick in the inaugural Big League Wiffle Ball draft on April 18.
Foreman was picked by the San Diego Orcas.
“It is wild,” Foreman said. “I’ve been playing wiffle ball for seven years at competitive tournaments all over the country. They saw how dedicated I am.”
Of course, in the world of professional wiffle ball, things can change in a hurry. The San Diego franchise was, according to Foreman, bought by rap star Nelly and former NFL receiver Julio Jones and is moving to Georgia.
The BLW is a new venture with some big celebrity names attached. The eight-team league begins play this summer and will be seen on ESPN platforms.
And Foreman will be there. A long ways from his backyard.
“I originally found wiffle ball on YouTube, videos of guys throwing crazy wiffle balls,” Foreman said. “I played in my backyard with Mikey Ryan and Kellen Haverback. All three of us and Jase Jaspers went to a tournament in Illinois, and it was super fun. We all had a blast.
“I kept going to tournaments. I’ve traveled to Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan.”
Based on his play in those tournaments, Foreman put himself in position to be drafted. The league took players from 13 different states. Foreman had his friend, Connor Smith, who lives in Indiana, was picked by the Orcas, too.
“We have good chemistry,” Foreman said. “A few teams were interested in picking us together. The Orcas said we love what we see with you two.”
Foreman is both a hitter and pitcher in wiffle ball. Teams are seven players inside a scaled-down baseball stadium. Because of the nature of the ball, which is plastic with holes in it, pitchers can create wild movement. Batters use plastic bats.
(If you are curious, there are videos on YouTube.)
Foreman plans to play for BLW on the weekend (games are on Sunday) and play for Mount Vernon during the week this summer. It’ll be hectic, but he’s looking forward to it.
And Mount Vernon coach Charles Chatman is all for it.
“I think it is awesome,” Chatman said.
Of course, there are worries about pitch counts. While wiffle ball may seem like a kids game, pitchers put some real mustard on the ball.
“Throwing a super light ball as hard as you can is not the greatest thing for arm health,” Foreman said. “For some reason, I’m able to throw a wiffle ball 93 to 95 miles per hour. And it moves four times the amount of a baseball. That makes it unbelievably hard to hit.”
Chatman will work with Foreman to make sure his arm isn’t overused. Foreman doesn’t want to be the first wiffle ball player to need Tommy John surgery.
“He knows how to manage himself,” Chatman said. “I’m not worried.”
The Mustang skipper also isn’t worried about missed time. He already deals with that trying to manage a summer sport around camps, jobs and other sports.
“We have guys coming and going all summer,” Chatman said.
Foreman plans to play baseball at Coe College next year, and the coach there is also okay with his pro wiffle ball career.
“They are willing to work with me,” Foreman said. “All the coaches I’ve talked to are concerned about my arm. I’ve definitely got to be smart about it and not overdo anything.”
It may even help pay for college. Foreman said players make upwards of $10,000.
“Getting paid to play wiffle ball,” Foreman said. “That is really cool.”
BLW starts June 7 and runs through August. Follow Foreman on Instagram at CForeman00 and the league at BLWwiffleball.