TOKYO — Japanese female knuckleball pitcher Eri Yoshida has signed a contract with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League.

The 18-year-old Yoshida will play for Chico this summer, reporting to spring training in early May, the team said on its Web site.

The 10-team Golden Baseball League is an independent minor league.

The 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida became Japan's first female professional baseball player last year when she pitched for the Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai Independent League.

She was 0-2 in 11 appearances with a 4.03 ERA, giving up seven runs in 10 2-3 innings.