She’s Got Next: Highland Park’s Emily Calub selected for elite Major League Baseball program

In a sport long dominated by men, Highland Park’s Emily Calub is showing that baseball is a place for everyone. 

Calub was selected as one of just 32 girls nationwide to participate in Major League Baseball’s Breakthrough Series held Nov. 6-7 at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida.

The Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series is a joint effort on behalf of USA Baseball and Major League Baseball with a focus on developing players on and off the field through instruction, play, video coverage, seminars and mentorship, all while exposing players to U.S. National Team scouts and collegiate recruiters. 

Some of the coaches with whom Calub got to work — like Rachel Folden, Meggie Meidlinger and Veronica Alvarez — are current and former members of the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Calub learned about the series from her all women’s team, Chicago Perfect Catch. She is also part of Highland Park High School’s baseball program, where the junior is the only girl. She is also a starter for the Giants girls varsity basketball team.

Before making the lineup of the 32 players in the breakthrough series, Calub was a part of the Elite Development Invitational, where she was evaluated with a group of 64 girls before making the cut. 

“It means a lot [to have made the cut]. It’s very important to me, especially being a girl in baseball,” Calub told The Record during her first day at the series. “The series has been an amazing experience so far, and I am so happy to be part of it. 

“To have all these new opportunities and new resources of knowing other girls who have been going through the same situation as me means a lot to me.” 

Calub said she’s “used to” usually being the only girl on the ballfield. She started T-ball at an early age and worked her way up from there. She said she’s never noticed a gender difference in the sport, as everyone has always been “supportive” of her in her journey.

She’s found baseball “really fun” since being introduced to it by her father, Eugene Calub. And she loves the team aspect of the sport.

To Calub, working hard day in and out, without focusing on that she is the only girl, is what helped her stand out to get this opportunity. Recognizing that she may not be as strong or as fast as some boys, made her “work even harder,” she said. 

In the two-day series, Calub was most looking forward to being a “sponge,” hoping to take all the information she can from the coaches and implement it back home. 

Calub believes her greatest baseball strengths are her two-strike approach, her grit and her work ethic.

Getting more playing time is Calub’s main goal when baseball season comes around in the spring, along with making the varsity team and making an impact there. 

Calub credits her father and her coach Perfcet Catch coach Carlton Hondras for pushing her to the next level and instilling confidence in her. 

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.