Australia and Korea play out another international baseball classic in famous Tokyo Dome

16 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Australia and Korea play out another international baseball classic in famous Tokyo Dome

story by Eric Balnar / videos by Scott Powick

One team ends in heartbreak, the other in jubilation.

Back in March at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Australia sent shockwaves around the tournament when they upset betting odds favourite Korea 8-7 at the Tokyo Dome in what was one of the games of the global event.

On that occasion, Australia was elated while baseball giant Korea were left stunned.

Thursday afternoon, in the opening game of the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, South Korea exacted a tiny bit of revenge.

Their 3-2 come-from-behind extra-innings victory was the latest chapter in what is becoming a tantalizing international baseball rivalry.

Australia had a narrow 2-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, when Korea’s #9 hitter Ju Won Kim tied the game.

Korean superstar Roh Si Hwan – who led the Korean Major Leagues in home runs this year – provided the game-winning hit for Korea to propel his team to a come-from-behind tiebreaker win.

Ecstasy for the millions of Koreans at home and despair for a tight-knit Australian community at home.

WATCH THE REPLAY ON BASEBALL PLUS

But one thing is for sure – the first game of the Asia Professional Baseball Championships was an instant classic, layered with drama and laced with golden opportunities for both sides.

Both teams seemed to subscribe to boxing great Muhammed Ali’s famous “rope-d-dope” tactic, a “bend but don’t break” attitude or Patches O’Houlihan’s “dodge, duck, dive and…dodge” strategy.

There was scoring chance, after scoring chance, after scoring chance. There just wasn’t a lot of runs.

Korea pressured early. In the end, they stranded 13 base runners of their own, including a stretch of four innings where they left nine on.

Australia left 14 runners on base during the game, including seven in the last four innings.

Clutch moments from Australian pitching looks like a laundry list:
– 2nd inning: Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis escapes a bases-loaded, one out jam
– 3rd inning: Coen Wynne (above) wriggles out of two-on, no-out situation
– 4th inning: Coen Wynne strikes out batter with runner on second
– 5th inning: Sam Holland evades scary two-on, one-out dynamic
– 7th inning: Dan McGrath comes in game, induces inning ending double play
– 8th inning: Dan McGrath picks off runner at first

In the middle of all that, Alex Hall’s sixth inning homer put Australia up 2-1. It set the stage for another perceived potential upset over the Korean powerhouse.

Want more Team Australia stories from Tokyo? Click here.

After the homer, Australia started to turn the screws. It was Korea’s turn to get out of hairy situations. Australia loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and failed to score. In the ninth, they had two on and one-out with no runs. Korea held Australia scoreless off a wild double-play in extra innings with two on and no-out.

They also tagged out Australian runners trying to snag an extra base on two separate occasions to end innings.

Clutch Korean pitching gave the offense just enough moments to come through.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Korea finally broke through when Ju Won Kim levelled the score with a well-placed RBI single to right-field.

In the tenth inning, Chris Burke blasted a hard-hit ball off KBO All-Star closer Jung Hai-Young. Unfortunately, the ball smashed off the glove of the Korean third baseman, ricocheted off his face and landed at his feet. The fielder was able to pick up the ball, step on third for a force-out, and zip the ball to first for a double play.

Under an international rules tiebreaker, with runners on first and second, South Korea’s leading homerun man in the 2023 season stepped up to the plate. He knocked the game winner to right field to send Korean fans into ecstasy and leave Australia stunned.

Australia will play tomorrow at 12:00PM vs Chinese Taipei in a sudden must win game in the short tournament.

BOX SCORE: Australia vs Korea

15 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Team Australia APBC

How Australia deals with culture shock and mass media in baseball crazed Japan

Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis just had a completely unnatural experience.

Moments after being named Team Australia’s starting pitcher for Thursday’s massive clash vs South Korea at the Asia Professional Baseball Championships, Vassalakis was told he had to do a press conference.

The 23-year-old Australian, who last pitched on a national team at the Under-18 World Cup back in 2017, turned the corner and found himself in a room, surrounded by 52 reporters asking him questions about the game.

Above: Australia at the Tokyo Dome. Photo – Scott Powick / Team Australia Media

“This just got real, didn’t it?” head coach Dave Nilsson said with a smile.

“Was that your biggest press conference,” I ask.

“It’s my only press conference I’ve ever done,” says Vassalakis. “That was crazy.”

You’re not in Australia anymore, Brodie. But if you want to play for Team Australia, maybe it’s something you have to get used to.

In Australia, you’re lucky if one reporter shows up to your game. Vassalakis, fresh off graduating from NCAA Division 1 school Grand Canyon University, just fielded questions from over fifty of them. His name, his words, his face will be plastered across news stations in Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

He’ll be given the ball tomorrow for a start at the Tokyo Dome in front of a large Asian television audience.

The media frenzy isn’t contained to just the walls of a Tokyo Dome press room.

Sam Holland was featured in Japanese tabloids because he was checking out sweets while trying to buy a meat pie in a Tokyo supermarket.

Some tweets from the Team Australia twitter account are viewed by about 100,000 Japanese people.

That’s normal for baseball in the three baseball crazed countries Australia is playing this week.

Want more Team Australia stories? Click here.

“There could be tens of millions of people watching,” one Japanese reporter at the training day says. “People here really love baseball.”

Six the seven Japan World Baseball Classic games in March posted audiences of over 30 million in their home country, according to Sports Business Journal. These games are on multiple major networks across Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan….and of course streaming in Australia on Baseball+.

This is what it’s about,” said Nilsson in a press conference. “Giving these guys a chance to get used to the big stage.”

If Vassalakis felt like a fish out of water, you couldn’t balme him. Talking to that many people, in multiple languages, with a constant flashing of cameras, clicking of keyboards, and the hum of buzzing journalists is not a normal thing for a human to experience.

Luckily, he’s on a team who can help.

Veteran 29-year-old pitcher Sam Holland, who pitched in the WBC in 2023 and has been part of the senior men’s program since 2019, was quick to debrief the experience with Brodie after the conference.

“Here’s what you can do,” he said, and proceeded to give him advice.

Australia has built a culture of information sharing from one generation to the next, and this tournament is the perfect opportunity for that.

It’s an Under-24 tournament of the best professional players from Taiwain, Japan and Korea. Each team is allowed three players older than 24 to be part of the roster, as well as players with less than three year’s pro experience.

Sam Holland, Dan McGrath and Aaron Whitefield are that for Australia. They, along with their fellow U24 teammates who were at the last World Baseball Classic, are tasked with providing veteran leadership off-the-field and delivering big moments on it.

“Sam is such a big game player and leader. You saw that at the World Baseball Classic in March, right? How many big moments did he have,” says General Manager Russell Teichmann. “Aaron Whitefield played in the Major Leagues and loves the big stage. Dan McGrath has been pitching important innings for us for a long time. They are here to lead.”

A large contingent of this Australian squad has long dreamt of playing at the Tokyo Dome, and this week they get to live it.You only had to look at player’s faces of awe and wonder when they first arrived for today’s official training session.

“As a kid you would stay up late to watch Australia play at the Tokyo Dome in a major international tournament,” 20-year-old Jake Burns said to an Amazon Prime reporter after stepping in the Tokyo Dome for his first time Wednesday afternoon. “You dream of wearing Australia on your chest and be a part of these games.”

This isn’t Blacktown Sportspark, Melbourne Ballpark or West Beach. This is a foreign country, with a different language, in a stadium that fits almost 50,000 people, and one of the most iconic baseball places in the world.

That’s where the veterans come in.

“The off-field experience for these kids is probably the strangest part and it has been for me,” says Dan McGrath. “They’ve played baseball their whole life so on the field they know what they need to do. But the preparation off the field is so different in tournament baseball. Knowing where to eat in a different country, knowing how to prepare yourself hydration and nutrition wise is a challenge.”

McGrath says it’s hard to find places to get what you need, so he is more than happy to help him. He had help as a newcomer to Team Australia from players like Warwick Saupold, Jon Kennedy, Steven Kent and Darryl George. Now he’s paying it forward.

“Just letting them know where to eat, letting them know where to go,” he says. “In tournament baseball it doesn’t matter how you feel, you are naturally going to be uncomfortable, so you have to find a way to get through it. Our job is to help them prepare as much as they can for whatever role they have. Some of these guys haven’t played in front of 10s of thousands of people, our job as a veteran is to help them out so they are ready to go for their at-bat.”

McGrath adds that little moments – like going to a restaurant, showing off some food and talking about your day, can help players feel more comfortable.

“Even if I can help one person this whole tournament – it’s going to be good,” he says.

Off the field is one thing, on the field is another.

Australia is about to face some of the best players in the world. On Thursday, they play 27 Koreans with extensive KBO experience, including eight who played in the World Baseball Classic. Notable names include career .311 hitter Kang Baek-Ho and tomorrow’s starting pitcher Moon Dong-Ju, who just set the Korean velocity record by throwing a pitch 101mph in a league game.

Sam Holland wants to make sure the players know they belong.

“We have some of the best players in the world as well. We are putting out our best players in the country just like them,” he says. “We had more homeruns than anyone in our group of the WBC, two of those guys that hit them are on this team. We have a lot of guys who pitched crucial innings. For these young guys – at no point should you feel outmatched. You have as much success as they do.”

One person Holland is helping is 18-year-old Jack Bushell. In fact, Holland was on the coaching staff of the U18 World Cup training camp back in August.

Now they are teammates.

“We had a chat [in August] about how it won’t be long before our player coach relationship turns into a teammate relationship and here we are two months later playing at the Tokyo Dome,” says Holland.

Bushell agrees.

“It happened quickly. It was only two months ago he was yelling me in the pen,” he says.

Seeing the next generation come through, and helping them along the way, is something that fires Sam Holland up.

“For me one of the best things about being on the team is seeing the calibre coming through in this nation,” he says. “Looking forward to some of these future events some of these guys are going to be the heart and soul of these teams.”

“We’re in bloody good hands.”

Australia’s journey at the Asia Professional Championship starts tomorrow at 12:00PM in Tokyo, and 2:00PM in Sydney. Watch it exclusively on Baseball+ in Australia.

15 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Team Australia APBC

Asia Series Report: Class is in session for young players on Australia's APBC roster

Class is in session, Team Australia style.

A near four-hour training block in Fuchu City brought together a unique set of Team Australia players for the first time in preparation for this week’s Asia Professional Baseball Championships (APBC) at the Tokyo Dome.

As some of the younger members of the group prepare to take on Korea, Taiwan and Japan, they already have the feeling that this level of Team Australia baseball is a little different than some of the junior events.

There’s more media, a bigger stadium, sponsorship obligations, a high standard of baseball to play, and a big buzz around the city.

Training #1 was all about familiarity – both with each other, the coaches, and what the national team program at a high level is all about.

MEET THE ROSTER: Australia set to take on Asia’s best at APBC

“We are here to win. This is a great chance for some younger guys to see what happens at the top-end – for events like WBC, Premier-12,” says head coach Dave Nilsson. “This is like an introduction of who they are and what they expect.”

Photo: Hiroki Chiba / Team Australia Media

“It’s as much off-field as on-field. It’s important they come to more tournaments because they are so different to everything else.”

The Asia Professional Baseball Championship has unique roster rules, creating an intriguing group of players for this week’s tournament at the Tokyo Dome.

It’s an Under 24 event, with a few exceptions.

Rules allow each team to bring in an experienced group of players to support a new young core coming through the ranks.

Each team – including opponents Japan, Korea and Taiwan – is permitted three players between the ages of 25 and 29. For Australia, they are MLBer Aaron Whitefield, longtime national team member Dan McGrath and high leverage WBC pitcher Sam Holland.

You’re also allowed players over the age of 24 who have less than three years’ experience in the professional system, allowing WBC returnees like Liam Spence. A pair of 24-year-olds in Briley Knight and Billy Parsons also get their first exposure the national program at this level.

Rixon Wingrove, Alex Hall, Will Sheriff and Coen Wynne all have played in the World Baseball Classic and are all under 23.

Head coach Dave Nilsson says they’ll be looked to as leaders.

“This is a culture where the old teach the young. In this environment at the APBC guys like Whitey, Alex, Sam, Dan McGrath and Rixon all have a lot of experience,” he says. “It’s their responsibility to help them along the way. They know what to expect at a high level and there’s a teaching now that goes with it.”

One of those students is Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, a pitcher who just graduated Grand Canyon University.

“I feel like that freshman again. I feel like I am ten minutes early but also ten minutes late at the same time. I’m learning it all over again – learning names, learning how things work,” he says. “It’s been great. It’s a more professional setting. It’s get what you need to be ready for the game.”

Photo: Scott Powick / Team Australia Media

Vassalakis, now 22, just spent the last five years away from home playing Division 1 Baseball. He hasn’t played on a national team since the 2017 World Cup, or in the Australian Baseball League since then.

He’s been away from the national program and is now getting re-introduced.

“They know who I was, but they don’t know who I am now,” he says. “I’ve been on a journey of finding out who I was as a pitcher I really solidified knowing that what I have is enough to compete at this level. Over the past few years, I was able to play around and find out who I was an be confident in that.”

Vassalakis just finished his best season as a college player, tossing 27.1 innings as a reliever with a 3.95 ERA.

Ky Hampton is another college returnee to the group coming off a career year. The South Australian is actually still in college – technically.

Hampton was a conference all-star at NCAA’s Eastern Illinois Panthers after turning in his best season in a five-year college career.

He flew in from across the world – from a little town in Illinois where he is finishing a placement as a Grade 4 teacher – to be here.

Hampton taught a class on Friday in Illinois, jumped on a plane on Sunday, arrived in Japan late Monday, was at the training ground on Tuesday, will play in the tournament from Thursday-Sunday, and be back ready to teach on Tuesday.

But Hampton says he wouldn’t miss it.

“Any chance you get to represent your country you do it,” says 22-year-old Hampton, who was on Australia’s U23 World Cup roster last season. “But here I feel like a new guy, old guy, and young guy at the same time.

The re-introduction is needed for Hampton, too.

“It was kind of funny,” he laughs. “I had my headshot taken and the longtime team photographer asked me who I was. I told him and he was like: “Oh wow I remember you. I haven’t seen you since you were a little fella.”

While the learning experience is great, these players are all here to serve a purpose – find a way to win.

Team Australia General Manager Russ Teichmann says the staff wanted to select the best available players to go and win the event.

“We have a busy tournament cycle for the next few years. There’s the Premier12, U23 World Cups, a World Baseball Classic and Olympic qualification. This age group is part of a larger group who will be playing important games for Australia leading up to the 2028 Olympics and beyond,” he says.

Teichmann says he is looking forward to seeing Australia compete with some of the best professional players from Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.

Photo: Scott Powick / Team Australia Media

“This playing group is a good mix of guys who have been part of World Baseball Classics and World Cup squads. We’re also excited to see new players make their debut at this level,” he says. “The expectation is that we are going to perform well, with our constant objective of being the best tournament team in the world.”

When class is adjourned on Sunday afternoon, Australia will be hoping there will be wins for their players both on and off the field.

“We really want to see them grow as people and men,” says Nilsson.

The first test in Thursday at 2:00PM AEDT (12:00PM in Tokyo) vs South Korea. You can watch the game in Australia on Baseball+.

13 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad College Baseball

Aussie mates Kyan Wallington and Lachlan Smith commit to college baseball career together at Odessa

Two Australian baseball players have committed to Odessa College – a junior college based in Texas, USA.

Kyan Wallington (NSW) and Lachlan Smith (VIC) – both teammates on national teams – will again link up in Texas next year.

It’s a school with strong Australian connections. Victorian Charlie Collins plays there now, and three others – Liam McDonald, Conor Myles and Chase Diggins – played there in the last two years. All three are at Division 1 universities, now.

Wallington, an outfielder from Blacktown Workers Baseball Club in NSW, says he is excited to play Division 1 Junior College baseball with a close mate.

“The school’s coaching, the location and the opportunity has led me to committing to Odessa,” he says.

Infielder Lachlan Smith (below) is coming off a breakout year where he featured heavily on Team Australia’s U18 squad at the 2023 U18 World Cup.

The Sandringham Royals product was a staple of the infield. He says he hopes Odessa can help lead him to other opportunities by taking his game to the next level, just like the Australians who went before him.

“I’m excited by the program at Odessa with a heavy strength and conditioning focus and a very clear plan on technical and strategic approach,” Smith says. “My exposure to the coaches and facilities at Odessa so far indicate a really great environment to build these tools. The chance to be surrounded by other amazing baseballers and motivated coaches will keep pushing me to be better every day.”

Watch Team Australia at the Asia Professional Baseball Championships on Baseball+, November 16-19.

Wallington also says he wants to get physically and mentally stronger.

“I want to lift big, hit the ball far, throw the ball hard and be able to put my foot in the door to professional baseball,” he says.

Wallington was a member of the 2022 U18 World Cup squad. He says that was an instrumental experience in his development.

“Playing in tournaments like that helped me prepare to play against some of the best athletes in the world and to prepare me for being in conditions I’m not comfortable in,” he says.

Lachlan Smith agrees. He says the tournaments within Australia help, too.

“I’ve participated in many tournaments – like representing Victoria at the Australian Youth Championships, and playing for my country at the U18 World Cup,” he says. “These tournaments help you prepare for the caliber of baseball that needs to be played at a college level. Facing pitching helps me adapt and be ready for anything – it exposes you to higher velocity.”

Both players say they wouldn’t have had this opportunity if it weren’t for their home clubs.

Smith shouts out a wide Victorian community and his Sandringham Club – a team he’s been part of since he was nine.

“Rick Wills was a key part of my baseball development and a huge influence in my baseball journey. He not only taught me the fundamentals of the game but also baseball strategy and really shaped my overall approach to the game,” he says.

“I have also had the benefit of some fantastic coaches at Baseball Victoria including Damian Shanahan and Keli’I Zablan who have helped develop my technical skills throughout the Baseball Victoria Development Program. And lastly, I am fortunate to have Marshall Skinner who is now my Senior’s Coach at Sandringham and has also coached me in the U18 Victorian State team. All of these coaches have played a huge part in my development helping me to become the baseball player I am today.”

Wallington (below) says his mum is among the biggest of his influences.

“She really is my biggest influence on pushing myself to where I want to go,” he says. “The coaching from little league, to state league, and all in between had a really big impact on my development and drive. Nathan Wright (Lefty), Benjamin McGuire, Brandon Bojarski and Jason Pospishil too.”

Both players say their goal is to factor into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic team.

They will report to Odessa in August.

12 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

ABL

Meet the Team Australia roster for the Asia Professional Baseball Championship

Learn about Team Australia’s roster at the upcoming Asia Professional Baseball Championships.

Australia will play South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan from November 16-19 at the Tokyo Dome.

日本語訳はこちら

If you’re in Japan, don’t forget to eat a delicious Four’N Twenty meat pie while cheering on Australia at the Tokyo Dome! We can’t wait to see our Japanese friends.

If you’re in Australia, you can watch live and free via Baseball+. There is a mobile app as well as a web platform. Both can cast to your TV. Download and register here.

Our schedule:

Thu Nov 16: vs South Korea, 2:00PM AEDT (12:00PM Tokyo)
Fri Nov 17: vs Chinese Taipei, 2:00PM AEDT (12:00PM Tokyo)
Sat Nov 18: vs Japan, 2:00PM AEDT (12:00PM Tokyo)
Medal Games: Sunday

Australia’s roster features 18 players with minor league experience in the USA. There is one former Major League player, two ABL MVPs, and multiple NCAA college stars.

For this week, rivals in the Australian Baseball League check their state affiliation at the door and become one, unified, Team Australia!

Rosters from all competing countries were selected with the following criteria:

Must be Under-24; or
Have three years or less of professional experience; or
Be one of the three overage players allowed (but not older than 29)

Let’s meet the team:

RHP – Jack Bushell: An 18-year-old coming off a standout performance at the U18 World Cup where he led Australia in ERA and innings pitched. Currently signed with the Adelaide Giants in the ABL, will soon have to decide whether he goes to college or signs profressionally.

RHP – Kai-Noa Wynyard: 21-year-old Queenslander who is a minor-leaguer with the Texas Rangers. Wynyard is coming off an impressive season at High-A where he posted a 2.38 ERA in 41.2 innings.. Signed with the Brisbane Bandits in the ABL.

LHP – Will Sherriff: Just 21, Sherriff has three year’s of experience in the ABL, where he became a premier reliever for the Perth Heat last season. Sherriff was on Australia’s World Baseball Classic roster, starting a game vs Japan.

RHP – Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis: 22-year-old from Canberra, who just graduated from NCAA Division 1 school Grand Canyon University. He started 18 games with a 3.95 ERA in his senior season. Pitches for Brisbane Bandits in Australia.

RHP – Dylan Clarke: A member of Australia’s U23 National Side, Clarke emerged as a Rookie of the Year contender in his debut season with Sydney in 2022-23. C

LHP – Ben Walmsley: 19-year-old pitcher from Queensland who is currently signed with the Cincinatti Reds. Pitches in the ABL for the Brisbane Bandits.

RHP – Ky Hampton: An U23 National Team member, Hampton just graduated from Northern Illinois in the NCAA where he was a conference All-Star. He pitches for the Adelaide Giants in the ABL.

RHP – Kieren Hall: 22-year-old Western Australian who just finished a collegiate career at Evansville University. Hall pitches for the Perth Heat in the ABL and is a member of the U23 National Team.

LHP – Dan McGrath: One of Australia’s best, and most versatile, pitchers. A former member of the Boston Red Sox organisation, the 29-year-old lefty reached as high as Triple-A. He pitches for the Melbourne Aces in the ABL, and is a two-time member of the World Baseball Classic roster. Can be used as a starter or high-end reliever.

RHP – Sam Holland: A member of Australia’s World Baseball Classic team, Holland has emerged as one of the ABL’s best and most consistent arms. A former affiliate of the San Diego Padres and LA Angels. Holland reached as high as Double-A in his minor league career and pitches in Australia for the Brisbane Bandits.

RHP – Coen Wynne: Had a breakout season in the ABL with the Sydney Blue Sox, that resulted in a last-minute call-up to the national team for the World Baseball Classic. 23-year-old with lots of experience representing Australian internationally.

Read about the Four’N Twenty partnership

RHP – Matt Beattie: 24-year-old with experience in the Detroit Tigers’ minor league system. Beattie pitches for the Melbourne Aces in the ABL.

RHP – Connor Laverty: 24-year-old coming off a rookie season with the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League.

C – Alex Hall: The U23 National Team captain had a huge 2023. Hall was named the MVP of the Australian Baseball League while playing for the Perth Heat, and was a key contributor in the line-up of Australia’s run to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals. Hall played last season in the Milwaukee Brewers minor leagues.

C – Jake Burns: 20-year-old Sydney Blue Sox player who just spent the last three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organisation. He has experience on Australia’s U18 team.

C – Mitch Edwards: Just 24-years-old, Edwards is closing in on 150 ABL games. He now plays for the Canberra Cavalry. Edwards played a few seasons in the Phillies’ minor leagues.

1B – Rixon Wingrove: He quickly became a star of Australia’s World Baseball Classic team, hitting a huge homer in the quarterfinal game vs Cuba and leading the team in runs batted in. Wingrove just won the Claxton Shield with Adelaide in the ABL, and is a member of the Phillies minor leagues, reaching as high as Double-A.

INF – Clayton Cambell: The 20-year-old is one of Australia’s best prospects. He is a member of the Detroit Tigers and just got the A-Ball call-up this season. A long history of representing Australia at a junior level ever since he was 12. Plays for the Sydney Blue Sox.

INF – Liam Spence: Spence had a huge 2021 college season with NCAA powerhouse Tennessee Volunteers that saw him get drafted in the fifth round of the MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. He just won the ABL’s Rookie of the Year while winning a championship with the Adelaide Giants. Spence was part of the World Baseball Classic roster in March.

UTIL – Chris Burke: A former member of the Phillies and Royals system, Burke had a huge 2022 U23 World Cup, and has won a championship with the Melbourne Aces in the ABL.

UTIL – Luke Smith: A Queenslander who was just a key contributor of the U23 World Cup qualifiers in Sydney. He led the team in RBIs. Signed with the Brisbane Bandits in the ABL.

OF – Aaron Whitefield: A two-time ABL MVP, Whitefield is one of Australia’s best. He reached the Major Leagues on two occasions – once with Minnesota (2020) and once with LA Angels (2022). Whitefield has played in two World Baseball Classics and plays for the Aces locally.

OF – Briley Knight: A 24-year-old who was born in Perth, but moved to the USA when he was a kid. He went on to play NCAA college baseball for Utah and Portland. He is returning to Australia to play for the Adelaide Giants, and gets his first national team call-up.

OF – Jess Williams: Four years’ experience with the Perth Heat in the ABL and a former Rookie of the Year. Williams is a former Brewers’ prospect who reached as high as Triple-A in 2019.

OF – Alex Skepton: A Brisbane Bandits local who has impressed at home and gets the call-up. Skepton just featured heavily on the U23 World Cup qualifying roster.

12 November 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Team Australia Japan Translated

アジアプロ野球チャンピオンシップ２０２３に向けたオーストラリア代表チームの選手を紹介します。

translated by Rie IIO

アジアプロ野球チャンピオンシップ２０２３に向けたオーストラリア代表チームの選手を紹介します。

オーストラリアは11月16日から19日まで東京ドームで韓国、チャイニーズタイペイ、日本と対戦。

オーストラリア代表は午前9時30分から午後1時まで、府中市の府中市民球場でトレーニングをします。日本のみなさんに会えること、そして東京ドームで応援していただけることを願っています。

11 November 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Women's Baseball

How a Japanese city is helping Australian women's baseball

by Kristin Sims, women’s baseball reporter for Baseball.com.au. Got a story idea? Email us at playbaseball@baseball.com.au.

FORWARD – In August 2023 a partnership between the Fukuoka – a prefecture located on the Japanese island of Kyushu – and Baseball New South Wales was struck, with the aim of developing the women’s game for both countries.

Earlier in November, the first trip of the partnership saw some of the country’s top female players head to Japan to train and play with the Kyushu Honeys women’s team.

Four New South Wales (NSW) players – Ticara Geldenhuis, Jordan Richardson, Maddi Heath and Claire O’Sullivan – were selected to head to Japan to immerse themselves in Japanese baseball culture. All four are members of Australia’s national team, the Aussie Emeralds.

O’Sullivan – one of Australia’s most prominent female players, who represented Australia in the recent Women’s World Cup – was on the trip. She sat down with Baseball Australia to reflect on the trip and what she hopes it will bring for the game in Australia moving forward.

Aussie Emerald Claire O’Sullivan says we can learn a lot from how Japanese baseball players approach the sport.

The New South Wales-based player was one of four baseballers who joined the Kyushu Honeys for a six-day trip in Japan. They took part in their training programs and played exhibition games vs a local boys’ team and a university squad.

Australia is in Japan playing in the Asia Professional Baseball Championships. Watch on Baseball+.

For O’Sullivan, seeing the Kyushu Honey’s training schedule instantly highlighted a stark difference between the two countries programs. It was intense.

“They had a training schedule that was from 8am-12pm every day and it showed that they are more developed and at a higher standard than what we are,” says O’Sullivan.

In Japan, the pathways in women’s baseball have developed to include High School Leagues and strong amateur leagues. The chance for female baseballers to play at University and in a professional league helps make Japan the #1 women’s team in the world.

O’Sullivan hopes the partnership will be able to create a similar system for women’s baseball in Australia.

“For us, it is about what we can do to build up and develop women’s baseball in NSW. While we have a couple of tournaments we can play in during the year, there isn’t a lot of opportunity outside of that,” she says. “It’s about developing that side of it and giving us the opportunity to play against better competition and better players.”

O’Sullivan says she can use some of the highlights of the Japan trip in Australia. She can share knowledge with NSW’s current and next generation of baseball players.

The Honeys had three Japanese national players on their team. O’Sullivan says their training and preparation for games is not what she’s used to seeing. She has already brought that back home to her club.

“Getting to see what those players do every single day, how they go about their training with an intent at a completely different level to what I have ever seen across any other level,” said O’Sullivan.

“They have a completely different vibe to how they respect the game, their coaches and their team. It a different culture to what we have but something that I am already trying to implement at a club level,” she says.

One area she identified is the approach to trainings.

“I feel that intensity is something that can be dramatically improved and by starting small at a club level, hopefully it will flow through to our state team and other levels as well,” she says.

O’Sullivan says she hopes opportunities like these overseas trips will get more women involved in baseball.

O’Sullivan says the experience was eye-opening. She says the wide range of talent in Japan across different age brackets made her identify an area of concern for the game in Australia – player numbers between the ages of 15 and 21.

Although this problem is not isolated to just baseball in Australia, if there are smaller participation rates than the loss of a few players can harm clubs in the long term.

O’Sullivan thinks this is something the partnership could assist with, by showing players that there are a wide range of pathways for the sport aside from the annual national championships.

“I would like to see us send teams over to Japan in the months that we are not training for nationals,” O’Sullivan says.

“We do have a really strong under 15 and 16 program in NSW but we do see a lot of players dropping off in that age bracket who aren’t quite at the state level yet. It would be good to see something available for them to play in whether it is a tournament overseas or a training camp,” she says.

O’Sullivan is already quite active in the women’s baseball scene, outside of her prolific playing career. She is already actively engaging in the 15-21 age group by coaching youth teams – like the NSW squad that went to the Barclay Cup earlier this year. She is active at her club and in the NSW community in giving young women a chance to play.

“If these girls can see that there is something else for them to aspire to, then it will become something that can help keep them in the game.”

Players in New South Wales are about to be exposed to the high-level of Japanese baseball.

The second step in the partnership will see Fukuoka send a team to Australia in December to replicate the Australian’s trip. Orio Aishin High School will be here with a group of players. There will be games and trainings happening throughout the Sydney leg of the tour.

NSW will host the Japanese players and provide accommodation like they received when they were in Japan. The hope is that the NSW state teams will be picked by then and they can use the opportunity to play some exhibition games before the national 2024 championships.

“With them sending over a junior team it would be great to have our train-on squad ready to play against that team in preparation for nationals.” said O’Sullivan.

Keep an eye out Baseball.com.au for more information on Women’s baseball.

10 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad - Team Australia Aussies Sign Pro

South Australian pitcher Jack O'Loughlin signs with Oakland As; Invited to MLB Spring Training Camp

South Australian pitcher Jack O’Loughlin has signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics in a deal that includes an invite to Major League Spring Training in February.
O’Loughlin is knocking on the doors of the Major Leagues. He spent the bulk of 2023 as a member of the Detroit Tigers’ organisation pitching in Triple-A for the Toledo Mudhens, the level below MLB.

The invitation to Spring Training means he will be part of the MLB squad’s pre-season, with a great opportunity to make an MLB roster out of camp if he impresses.

“This is the best opportunity to forward my career and hopes of becoming an MLB player,” says O’Loughlin.

Jack, 23, is pushing to become the 38th Australian player to reach the major leagues.

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He is a towering left-handed pitcher with a mid-90mph fast ball and strong off-speed stuff. He is considered one of Australia’s top pitchers.

O’Loughlin was second on the Mudhens in ERA among qualified starters with a 4.78ERA in 86.2 innings across 18 starts. He had three starts where he pitched at least 5.0 innings and didn’t allow a run.

He was the starting pitcher for Australia’s pivotal victories over South Korea and Czech Republic at the World Baseball Classic in March.

He also started the Adelaide Giants’ championship winning game three of the 2023 ABL Championship series.

O’Loughlin spent the last seven seasons in the Detroit Tigers’ system after signing as a 16-year-old in 2017.

He is under contract with the Adelaide Giants for the 2023-24 ABL season.

09 November 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

- Team Australia

UPDATES: Australia sweeps Guam to qualify for the 2024 U23 World Cup

Australia is going to the 2024 U23 World Cup of Baseball in China.

The Green & Gold swept Guam in a best-of-three series in Sydney from November 9-11, securing their place in the WBSC-run event.

Australia followed up Thursday’s 1-0 game one victory with a massive 15-2 victory on Friday. On Saturday morning, they used strong pitching to win 2-0.

Australia will now fly to Tokyo on Sunday morning in preparation for the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championships against Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei. All games will be broadcast on Baseball+.

Scroll down for match recaps of both games. Photos by Mick Goddard.

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AUSTRALIA’S ROSTER: Click here.

Game 3 – Australia 2 def Guam 0

Five Australian pitchers combined for a shutout of Guam on Saturday morning.

Australia’s pitching staff – Zak Elvy, Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Kieren Hall, Dylan Clarke and Tom Stancic – tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just two hits. They combined for seven strike-outs.

Elvy pitched the lion’s share of work, going 3.0 innings, allowing one hit, one walk, while striking out four.

Tyson Zamora led the charge offensively. The Queenslander went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

He drove in the winning run in the second inning on a two-out RBI single which drove in Jake Burns.

Liam Bull had the other RBI in the bottom of the fifth.

Nolan Cruz was particularly strong on the mound for Guam. He allowed just two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Yatar pitched the last 1.2 innings for Guam, holding Australia scoreless.

Game 2 – Australia 15 def Guam 2

After a dormant offensive performance in Game 1, Australia had a much more patient approach at the plate.

Eleven different Australians reached base, while the bats delivered in critical early moments. In total, the Aussie attack combined for 12 hits and eight walks in a complete 15-2 victory.

The Green & Gold took advantage of seven Guam errors in the field.

Clayton Campbell had a standout day at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Luke Smith was excellent from the lead-off spot, going 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and four runs scored. Bradley Griffin led all Australians with four RBI.

Liam Evans pitched the lion’s share of innings, throwing 3.1 innings of one-hit, one-walk, shutout baseball.

Australia was opportunistic, patient and in a run scoring mood from the get-go.

Luke Smith and Rixon Wingrove opened the game with a walk each, allowing Detroit Tigers’ prospect Clayton Campbell to open the scoring with an RBI single. Alex Skepton drove in a second run to give the Australian’s an early 2-0 edge.

Australia added three more runs in the third inning, thanks to a Luke Smith RBI-double, a Chris Burke sacrifice fly, and another Clayton Campbell RBI-knock.

5-0 Australia, just like that.

Guam pushed back in the bottom of the second inning, when J Pangelinan drilled a two-out, two-RBI triple off of Australia’s starting pitcher Jack Bushell.

Bushell pitched 2.2 innings, conceding six hits, two runs, and three walks.

Australia ran away with it in the fourth inning. Australia started the big inning by extending their advantage to 6-2 off a Guam error.

Then, the explosion.

With two-outs and the bases loaded, Tyson Zamora singled to left-field, scoring Wingrove and Campbell.

The next batter, Brad Griffin quickly turned on a ball and knocked it to score two more runs.

10-2.

Liam Evans kept things settled for Australia on the mound. He pitched the remaining 4.1 innings for Australia in relief of Bushell, with

Australia pressured again in the fifth. They had bases-loaded and nobody out with Clayton Campbell up-to-bat. The Tigers’ prospect had his third RBI at-bat with a sacrifice fly, but Australia left them stranded after that.

Australia blew out the game in the seventh and final inning by cashing in four more runs.

Jake Burns scored Campbell off a sacrifice fly for the first run of the seventh. Brad Griffin had a two-RBI triple, and Daniel Bannon had an RBI single in the big inning.

Tom Stancic closed out the game for Australia pitching a clean seventh inning.

Game 1 – Australia 1 def Guam 0

Australia’s pitching staff nearly threw a combined no-hitter as the Green & Gold edged past Guam in Game 1 of the U23 World Cup Qualifiers in Blacktown on Thursday morning.

Australia’s pitching was brilliant. Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis, Kai-Noa Wynyard, Kieren Hall, Will Sherriff and Dylan Clarke combined for seven innings of one-hit baseball, striking out 10 batters and walking only two.

The five Australian pitchers needed to excellent because Guam’s starting pitcher Franklin Ninete Jr threw the game of his life.

He used a wide pitch arsenal, including a fork-ball, to keep Australian batters off-balance. He allowed just one run in his six innings of work with four hits and one punch-out. Guam also turned two double-plays to take away prime Australian opportunities.

Of Australia’s four hits, Chris Burke’s was the timeliest. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Burke doubled to centrefield, cashing in Tyson Zamora for the game’s only run.

Liam Bull, Alex Skepton and Daniel Bannon had the other hits for Australia.

Guam pressured for the tying run in the last inning. They broke Australia’s no-hit bid with a blooper to left field off Dylan Clarke. One walk later, and Guam had runners on first and second with just one out.

Clarke kept his composure to tie the game.

Texas Rangers’ prospect Kai-Noa Wynyard was impressive in his U23 appearance. He pitched one inning and struck out the side. World Baseball Classic pitcher Will Sherriff struck out four batters in his two innings of work.

Australia’s defense was also on song during the contest. Good pitching and good defense usually paves the way for an big result.

Australia will play Guam in Game 2 of the best-of-three series Friday afternoon at 2:30PM AEDT. Australia is one win away from punching their ticket to the U23 World Cup in China next year.

06 November 2023 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

College Baseball

Aussie teen Ali Tanner commits to powerhouse US baseball college and “MLB Factory” Arizona State University

The term “legend” is a loosely used term in Australian vernacular. The word gets tossed around a lot.

But a 17-year-old South Australian teenage pitcher has just committed to a US college that literally churns out legends. Hall-of-famers, record setters, household names, you name it.

Ali Tanner has just committed to Arizona State University, home of the Sun Devils.

They’re also home to notable Sun Devil baseball alumni including Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, Dustin Pedroia, Bob Horner, Paul Lo Duca and one of Australia’s own Big Leaguers Josh Spence.

It’s a powerhouse baseball program that produces baseball stars.

“When ASU reached out to me in July, I was definitely keen to hear more,” says Tanner. “I had introductory Zoom meetings with Coach Gillich (Assistant Coach/Recruitment) and Coach Peraza (Pitching Coach) before meeting Head Coach Bloomquist. All three were unified and super passionate about the baseball program at ASU.”

Why wouldn’t they be passionate? This program has a history of winning on the field and developing Major League talent.

ASU has the highest winning percentage of any Pac-12 Conference team since the Sun Devils joined.

They have been in the NCAA Championship Tournament 17 times since 2000. There are 105 alumni who have moved on the Major Leagues.

If there’s a place to go to develop your baseball skills, ASU might be it.

“Pitching coach Peraza has a great reputation for developing pitchers, which is super important to me as ultimately my goal is to keep improving and be drafted and play professionally,” says the ambitious South Aussie teen.

The team is coached by 14-year MLB player Willie Bloomquist. He’s also an ASU alumnus.

“He has great presence, and everyone describes him as an amazing leader, coach and mentor,” says Tanner. “His past experience playing at ASU and in the big leagues will help give me knowledge about the best steps to put forward in my future.”

Tanner says the recruitment process was a whirlwind.

After contact was made with the Sun Devils in July, Tanner went with other Australians to the MLB International Select Showcase in September in Arizona. He arranged a trip to visit to coincide.

From there, he met everyone in person including the coaching staff and players.

“I got to see the baseball stadium, pitching lab, locker rooms, and tour the grounds,” says Tanner. “Mum and I were also lucky to attend a sellout football game between ASU and Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes where we definitely saw what Div 1 college sport was all about.”

The facilities are rivaled by few. It is one of the envies when it comes to baseball fields.

Tanner’s experience will be the next step in his baseball development. He started playing at Kensington Baseball Club as an 11-year-old.

He’s been through little league charters and played on U16 and U18 state teams. In August, Tanner played for Australia’s U18 squad at the World Cup.

Austin Gallagher, Tanner’s teammate and coach at Kensington and BaseballSA High Performance Manager, says it’s Ali’s love of baseball that has propelled him to this opportunity.

“Every time he goes out there, he gives it his all and you can always see the smile on his face,” says Gallagher. “He loves the grind and embraces the hard work. He is a great kid who speaks to everyone, is respectful, and has all the tools to make it at the highest level he wants to play at.”

He’s currently training with the Adelaide Giants, as he did in the 2022-23 season when the South Australian professional side took home their first flag in 43 years.

“Many people from my community have influenced my baseball journey,” says Tanner. “From my family who encouraged me to start playing, through to my Club, Charter and State team Coaches. I’ve also been lucky to have some great coaching through Baseball SA’s High Performance Programs and more recently with Baseball Australia as part of the U18 Team Australia roster.”

Tanner will remain in Adelaide for now. He won’t head to the USA until May or June 2025 to take part in the college summer program.

Afterall, Tanner is in Year 11 and has to finish his school. He says study is an important part of the journey and is excited that baseball can take him somewhere else in the world.

“Academically, ASU has a great Technology and Innovation focus and I’m keen to pursue a degree in engineering, media studies or entrepreneurship, so that post baseball I have an alternative career path up my sleeve,” says Tanner.

For now, it’s about hard work and getting himself ready for being a Sun Devil.

“I’d like to think that the ASU baseball program can help me improve my mechanics and assist me in developing a greater baseball IQ. I know that I have to improve in all areas and understand that there will be the odd tough time to get through….but I am up for it! To have an opportunity to spread my wings, be independent and keep developing as a person is super important too,” says Tanner.

03 November 2023 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

Australian Baseball to be broadcast on Baseball+ | A new app available for download now

Baseball Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Baseball League (ABL), have today launched Baseball+ – an Over-The-Top (OTT) Streaming App platform.

The app is available for download via the Apple and Google stores.

A global baseball audience will be able to watch Australian baseball in one place. They can stream Team Australia, Australian Baseball League, and national tournament games via the platform.

It marks a transformation from ‘Baseball On-Demand’, last year’s web-based streaming option with approximately 30,000 subscribers. But this time, you can stream everything through the App on your phone, tablet or TV.

Fans can use their same logins for the Baseball+ app. Regular season games will be broadcast live, free and on-demand. If you have any questions, check out our FAQ page.

The first official live game on Baseball+ will be Team Australia’s clash in Tokyo with South Korea at the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championships (APBC) on November 16. All of Australia’s APBC games will be broadcast for free via Baseball+.

The app will also include exclusive content, classic games, archived matches, and integrated ABL stats.

Baseball+ is the next phase in the development of Australian Baseball’s broadcast strategy.

The ABL is already a strong standard of competition with players from all over the world. With international players, comes an international audience.

Major League organisations from the USA, Korea and Japan send players to compete with Australia’s best. This includes the likes of the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays in MLB, three KBO clubs, and three Japanese teams.

68 players have advanced to Major League Baseball after playing in Australia, and dozens of others have advanced to the top leagues in Korea or Japan.

ABL General Manager Paul Gonzalez says this platform brings the audience to one place.

“The ABL brings the baseball world to Australia, and it brings Australian baseball players to the world,” says Gonzalez. “We’re already seeing strong social media interest from the US, Korea, Japan and Taiwan for the upcoming season. Baseball+ is the place where everybody around the world can connect to the game here in Australia.”

Baseball+ already has 30,000 subscribers thanks to last season’s streaming efforts. The 2023 Championship Series had larger broadcast numbers than other seasons when it was available on other broadcast platforms.

“Baseball + will enable fans to connect with their favourite players and teams, providing real-time statistics and live broadcasts, from the comfort of your home or device,” says Gonzalez.

The ABL acknowledge the teams for their support in this initiative that will connect their teams to all parts of Australia and the world.

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