Monica Abbott just became the first million-dollar player in professional fastpitch softball

Baseball's first million-dollar player was Nolan Ryan. This week, the Houston-area Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) signed Monica Abbott to a record-breaking new contract, making her the first million-dollar player in fastpitch softball. After stints in Japan and with the fellow-NPF team, Chicago Bandits, winning multiple league championships and Player of the Year awards in each league, her expected $1 million deal will keep her in the Yard Dawgs' black and orange for the next six seasons.

Her similiarity to Ryan doesn't just end with her contract, though. Just like the Hall of Fame pitcher, she holds down some pretty impressive records during her time at the University of Tennessee, including most NCAA strikeouts (with 2,440), most games pitched (253) and most career shutouts (112). She also set the record for fastest NPF pitch at 77 mph in 2012, so it's not surprising that she was so highly sought after.  
But there's one thing Abbott's done that Ryan hasn't -- and that's throw a perfect game. Actually, she's thrown six in NCAA Division I softball, and in 2008, she threw the first perfect game in Olympic history.
Said Abbott after signing her deal: 
"I am thrilled to be able to help lead the Scrap Yard Dawgs in the NPF this year. It is an incredible honor to represent a first class organization and I look forward to finishing out my career there over the next 6 years and helping make the Scrap Yard Dawgs a household name in the local, national, and international community."
Listen to Sunday Night Baseball announcer Jessica Mendoza talk to Abbott about her new contract here and then prepare to see softball dominance when the Scrap Yard Dawgs start their season against Abbott's old team, the Bandits, on June 2.