Mark-Paul Gosselaar Set as Male Lead in Fox’s Female Baseball Drama ‘Pitch’

He'll star opposite Kylie Bunbury in the pilot from Dan Fogelman. Getty Images

He'll star opposite Kylie Bunbury in the pilot from Dan Fogelman.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is ready to take a swing for Fox.

The Saved by the Bell and Franklin and Bash alum has been cast as the male lead in the network's female baseball drama pilot Pitch, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The baseball drama hails from prolific producer Dan Fogelman (Grandfathered) and centers on Ginny, a young female pitcher who defies the odds when she becomes the first woman to play in the major leagues. Kylie Bunbury (Under the Dome, Tut) stars.

Gosselaar is set to portray Mike Lawson, a handsome, charming, self-assured future Hall of Fame MLB catcher. A ladies' man off the field and a leader on it, Mike's not sure what to do with the undeniable spark between him and Ginny (Bunbury), the first female MLB player who joins his team. Skeptical of her at first, he still can’t help but show her the ropes. Over time, they’ll bring new meaning to the term, “team chemistry.”

Pitch becomes the actor's latest broadcast outing. He starred in NBC's short-lived comedy Truth Be Told this season. His credits include NYPD Blue and TNT's Franklin and Bash, among others. He's repped by CAA and Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Fogelman (Fox's Grandfathered, ABC's Galavant) and Rick Singer (Younger, American Dad!) will pen the script and executive produce the 20th Century Fox Television entry. Tony Bill and Helen Bartlett are also attached to exec produce.

The drama comes as Fox continues to be the home for postseason Major League Baseball, including the All-Star Game, one League Championship Series, two Division Series games as well as the crown jewel: the World Series. It's unclear if Major League Baseball will have a role in the Fox drama, though the scripted entry would be a natural extension of the partnership.

Keep up with all the latest pickups, castings and eventual series orders with THR's handy guide to pilot season.

Pilot Season

Lesley Goldberg