Rebellion Take Kayla Winkfield In NPF Draft
April 15, 2016 | Softball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With the 35th pick in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, the Pennsylvania Rebellion selected Mississippi State senior shortstop Kayla Winkfield, Thursday night.
“While this is a big day for me, I'm glad I got to share it with my teammates,” Winkfield said. “I couldn't be happier and this will just keep pushing me to continue to get better.”
Created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, NPF has operated since 1997. NPF has been the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.
A native of Giddings, Texas, Winkfield was the first signee for head coach Vann Stuedeman who is in the midst of her fifth season at the helm of the program. Winkfield has started in 157 straight games for the Bulldogs and has become the anchor of the State infield. At the dish, Winkfield is a triple-threat slapper who sits atop the Southeastern Conference in triples (4) and 15th in all of Division I.
Winkfield becomes the 12th Bulldog to go on to play professional softball with the most recent being Alison Owen (2013-14) who will enter her third season with the Akron Racers in 2016
Winkfield and the Rebellion open the 2016 season May 31 against Owen's Racers.
“I am just so incredibly happy for Wink,” Stuedeman said. “She has put in the work since arriving on campus and won't stop here. She has a 'what got you here, won't take you there' mentality. I look forward to seeing her play more softball.”
Winkfield and the rest of the Bulldogs return to action Friday, April 15 at Nusz Park against No. 11 LSU to open Super Bulldog Weekend. First pitch is set for 5:34 p.m. CT with the entire contest to air on SEC Network+. Admission is free for all regular season home games at Nusz Park.
For additional updates, follow “HailStateSB” on Twitter and for more information on the MSU softball program, follow on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”
