Meet Aspen Wesley, Mississippi’s Pro Pitcher

From Philadelphia, Mississippi, Aspen Wesley has grown into one of the state’s most accomplished softball pitchers. Wesley is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and grew up in the Pearl River Community on the Choctaw Indian reservation. She sees playing softball as her “way to inspire the next generation of native kids in [her] tribe and others”

Wesley first drew attention as a young pitcher at Neshoba Central High School, quickly earning a reputation for precision. By her junior year, she had become the keystone of a team that won six consecutive state championships. That season, she went 23‑0 with two saves, threw nine no-hitters and a perfect game, and struck out 316 batters. Her ERA was a minuscule 0.24, and she hit .421 with ten doubles and multiple home runs. Teammates remember her control and killer curveball, and her coach said simply, “You know when you go into the game with Aspen on the mound at least you have a chance.”

High school accolades followed naturally. In 2018, Wesley was named Clarion Ledger Female Athlete of the Year and earned four Mississippi Softball Gatorade Player of the Year awards. Her burgeoning talent made her a popular candidate for collegiate ball, and Wesley ultimately ended up committing to Mississippi State.

At State, Wesley continued to dominate. She earned multiple SEC and NCAA Pitcher of the Week honors, was recognized as a 2023 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, and threw her first career no-hitter in 2024, marking the Bulldogs’ first conference no-hitter since 2013. Over five years, she became a key leader on the mound, helping MSU reach its first Super Regional appearance and leaving her mark on the program’s record books.

Wesley now plays professionally for the Orlando Monarchs, where she has been named an All-Star and competed internationally in New Zealand. After signing with the Monarchs, Wesley commented, “Playing professional softball has always been a dream since I could pitch, but I thought that would always be a dream. I’m so incredibly blessed to be playing pro, and I couldn’t be more excited about representing MSU in this new adventure.”

Even as a pro based out of state, Wesley gives back to her Mississippi community, offering pitching lessons and mentoring young athletes in Mississippi. Choctaw Central Athletics reflected on her impact in a social media post, saying she is “the inspiration” for their Lady Warriors Softball team. Wesley was also recently inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

Author administrator Corinne Ellington