JOSH HENDRICKSON'S REMARKABLE RISE TO BECOMING AUSTRALIA's 41st MAJOR LEAGUER

25 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

JOSH HENDRICKSON'S REMARKABLE RISE TO BECOMING AUSTRALIA's 41st MAJOR LEAGUER

Josh Hendrickson is officially Australia’s 41st ever Major League Baseball (MLB) player.

The Western Australian left-hander received the long-awaited call-up from the Houston Astros on September 23, just days after his 29th birthday.

Let’s not downplay it. Making the Majors for any player, from any country, is incredible.

But Hendrickson’s story is particularly astounding.

Curtis Mead and Travis Bazzana – our two regular Australian MLB stars in 2026 – followed a more conventional path. One was signed as a teenager and climbed the minor league ranks over a number of years. The other went to college, was drafted number one overall and rapidly reached the Majors.

Hendrickson’s was different. Don’t get me wrong, he was once on this path too.

Hendrickson – also known as ‘Hendo’ or simply ‘Hazel’s Dad’ – started playing baseball for the Wembley Magpies in Perth, Western Australia. He established himself as an elite junior in Australia, playing in the Australian Youth Championships and representing his country at the Under 18 World Cup.

He played junior college baseball at Galveston and then Barton before transferring to San Diego to play NCAA Division I baseball.

In 2019, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. His journey also looked linear.

Rookie Ball, Low-A, High-A, Double-A, Triple-A — Hendrickson slowly climbed the ladder in the Phillies system. He even had a dominant stop in the ABL in the 2019-20 season with the Perth Heat.

Then, the ladder crumbled — so to speak.

Hendrickson injured his elbow during the 2023 season while pitching in Triple-A, the level below the Major Leagues, forcing him to undergo Tommy John surgery.

He was subsequently released by the Phillies and suddenly out of baseball.

In fact, he didn’t play a game for almost two years.

That didn’t deter Hendrickson. He went to work.

He relocated with his wife to Florida to attack rehab at a high-performance clinic called Cressey Sports Performance, treating his recovery like a man on a mission.

“I just treated it as my job. I was always a baseball player. I had to be around the game,” he told us in a feature story at Team Australia training camp in March. “I went there because they’re the best. It was about me working hard and being the best I could be.”

His routine rarely changed. He did rehab and throwing work from early morning until midday. He studied for an accounting degree — you know, for life after baseball — in the afternoon. Rinse, repeat, six days a week.

Later, he moved to Kansas City, where his wife is from, to complete the final phase of recovery.

At no point did he think his career was over.

“I never felt like I was done. I just knew it would be a long road back. I never had any doubt. I have so much support from my family, my wife and people around me to keep pushing me,” he said.

His motivation stayed simple.

“I just love playing baseball. I wanted to keep doing it. I didn’t want to be done doing it,” he said.

Hendrickson signed with the Kansas City Monarchs in 2025, an independent professional team in the American Association. With Kansas City, Hendrickson put together a promising campaign, going 10-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 19 starts and 104.2 innings, with 116 strikeouts. His punchout total was good for sixth in the league.

He signed with the Adelaide Giants in the Australian Baseball League shortly after, trying to make a case for a World Baseball Classic roster spot.

He made three appearances in the regular season, posting a 2.25 ERA and 0.875 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. Hendrickson ramped his fastball up to 95mph. He was handed the ball to start Game 3 of the Championship Series against Sydney, allowing just two runs over 5.2 innings to help Adelaide win the Claxton Shield.

Hendrickson was named to the World Baseball Classic roster the following week and found himself starting Australia’s second game of the tournament in March.

He said it was a “dream come true.”

“I think the final push to get on the team was pitching in the ABL,” Hendrickson said. “At the same time, I just wanted to enjoy pitching in Australia again, be present, and have fun playing baseball. It was special. My grandparents got to come watch me play and they hadn’t seen me in person.”

After the WBC, Hendrickson returned to Kansas City. He talked to teams in Asia and in independent leagues, but the Astros eventually came calling in April.

He returned to the minor leagues after three seasons, a gruelling rehab and two years away from the game.

“It was honestly a lot of excitement to be back in affiliated baseball,” Hendrickson told MLB.com. “But at the same time it was trusting the preparation that I’d done, even though I hadn’t been to a spring training, hadn’t been with a team, hadn’t faced hitters in a while, but trusting the preparation, going about my routine normally, meeting a lot of new faces, learning a lot of new names, and just going out there and having fun playing the game of baseball.”

He stayed the whole season in Triple-A. But after a late-season injury to starter Cristian Javier, Hendrickson finally got the Major League call.

He appeared in his first game on Wednesday, September 23 against the Seattle Mariners, with the Astros firmly entrenched in a playoff spot.

Hendrickson entered with runners on second and third, Houston leading 4-3, and got Josh Naylor to ground out on his second MLB pitch. He stayed in and ultimately went 2.0 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts.

Astros manager Joe Espada praised Hendrickson’s debut.

“I thought that was a really awesome major-league debut. Came in, got some big outs for us… We needed some help there in the middle and he delivered a really nice outing,” said Espada.

It’s an excellent reward for a great talent who put in the hard work.

It’s also a moment to celebrate for Australian baseball. For the first time since 2016, Australia had four Major League players in a given season — Josh Hendrickson, Curtis Mead, Travis Bazzana and Brandan Bidois.

Aussies may have to work a little harder to get there, and few journeys demonstrate that better than Josh Hendrickson’s.

24 September 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

In Memory of Ryan Prokopec

Baseball Australia is deeply saddened by the passing of 17-year-old Ryan Prokopec.

Ryan was a member of the Gawler Rangers Baseball Club and the wider Australian baseball community.

Tragically, Ryan passed away in a car accident while travelling home to Renmark following a game in Adelaide.

Ryan grew up in a proud baseball family. He was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, teammate, friend, and member of his community. He brought his own warmth, personality, and joy to the people around him and will be remembered for the special place he held in so many lives.

Those who knew Ryan will remember his kindness, his cheeky personality, his loving and loyal nature, and the joy he brought to the people lucky enough to have known him. He was an important part of the St Francis of Assisi College community, where he built strong friendships and left a lasting impression on those who knew him. He was also a proud member of the rowing club, and loved being out on the water.

Ryan came from a large and loving family and was deeply cherished by everyone around him. He was a beloved son to Andrea and Luke, a much-loved brother to Aidan and Stephanie, and the best mate to his beloved dog, Blue. The two were inseparable, sharing a special bond that reflected Ryan’s caring, loyal and loving nature.

Our thoughts are with Ryan’s family and loved ones, his teammates and friends at Gawler Rangers, the St Francis of Assisi College community, and everyone who is grieving this heartbreaking loss.

Baseball Australia stands alongside Baseball South Australia, Gawler Rangers and the broader baseball community during this time.

Ryan’s family have requested privacy during this incredibly difficult time, and we ask that their wishes are respected.

Rest peacefully, Ryan. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered. We will carry you with us for the rest of our lives.

23 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Feature Stories

Eleven Australians selected for MLB International College Showcase Tour

Eleven Australian baseball prospects are off to Arizona today for Major League Baseball’s (MLB) International College Showcase Tour.

The group will join the MLB World Select Team from September 24 to October 2, playing in front of college recruiters and professional scouts. They’ll also get a first-hand look at where baseball could take them next.

Thirty players under the age of 20 will make the trip, coming from Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Curaçao, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain.

Andrew Riddell, Baseball Australia’s National Player Development Manager, calls the trip the “pinnacle event” for Baseball players outside the U18 World Cup.

“These players are selected by national coaches with input from MLB scouts,” says Riddell. “They get an opportunity to live life as a pro baseball player for two weeks.”

There’s a lot packed into this fortnight of baseball.

The players will visit MLB Spring Training complexes, play high-school-aged travel teams at the Arizona Fall Classic, take on junior colleges and finish with a game against players from the Kansas City Royals Instructional League.

They’ll also take part in pro-style workouts specifically designed to put the players in front of college recruiting coordinators and professional scouts.

“The exposure to universities and professional teams is second to none and really shows our players what the next level of baseball looks like in the U.S.,” said Riddell.

Plenty of Australians have used this trip trip as a springboard.

Eight members of the 2025 Australian group have already moved into college or professional baseball. Patrick Crotty (Phillies) and Ashton Kennedy (Pirates) have started their professional careers, while Ethan Bickel, Will Hardy, Riley Puckett, Cooper Teichmann, Matt Trainor and Damien Wilson started their college journeys last month. There are currently over 100 Australians committed or playing college baseball in the USA.

Others on the alumni list include Travis Bazzana, Solomon Maguire, Will Sherriff, Clayton Campbell, Blake Cavill, Kai-Noa Wynyard, Max Stagg, Ali Tanner, Jack Bushell and Max Durrington.

Australian coaches Andrew Riddell and Shayne Watson will joing the Australian contingent, while the World Select Team will have access to a coaching group with a tremendous amount of experience.

They are:

– Roger McDowell, who spent 12 seasons pitching in the Major Leagues, won the 1986 World Series with the New York Mets and then spent another 12 seasons as an MLB pitching coach with Atlanta and Baltimore.

– Jeff Conine, who played 17 MLB seasons, made two All-Star teams and won two World Series.

– David Eckstein, who was a two-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and the 2006 World Series MVP across a 10-year MLB career. He has also worked as an assistant coach with Team USA’s U18 program.

– Rick van den Hurk, who pitched six seasons in MLB before an outstanding career in Asia. He won two Korean Series and five Japan Series championships and led the KBO in ERA and strikeouts in 2014.

– Jon Debus, who spent more than 40 years in professional baseball, including extensive catching and player-development roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets organisations.

Riddell adds that between the games, scouts, college coaches, professional facilities and people who have already been where these players want to go, they’ll get a pretty good look at what comes next.

“The level of talent is improved every year from our players and players from around the world,” says Riddell. “Better coaches have been introduced and they now get to see the different levels of baseball after high school all in a two week span.”

09 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Community

Team Australia invites 36 baseball players to Under 18 Selection Camp in Melbourne

Team Australia invites 36 baseball players to Under 18 Selection Camp in Melbourne
By Eric Balnar

Team Australia has finalised the invitations to the U18 Selection Camp at the end of September in Melbourne.

36 players from across the country will work out in Melbourne from September 20-25, with the objective of making the final 20-man roster for the U18 Oceania Championships which also act as the U18 World Cup Qualifiers later in the year.

You can view the roster below:

The selection camp will feature six days on-field structured into individual positional workouts in the morning and games in the afternoon. All of this will take place at Melbourne Ballpark and is open to the public.

Team Australia players will be in attendance to help run the program, including six with recent World Baseball Classic experience.

“This is part of the pathway to the 2027 U18 World Cup in China,” said Baseball Australia’s Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell. “But the journey started earlier this year. This group was selected from the Australian Youth Championships in January and across Driveline evaluations in each state during April.”

20 players will be named to the U18 Qualifiers roster out of selection camp. Details and schedule of the tournament have yet to be confirmed. However, we do know the event will take place in Blacktown from December 9-13, 2026.

The Qualifying Tournament has existed in a few different iterations over the years. In 2024, Australia won a best-of-five series against New Zealand. In 2022, Australia won a three-team series with Guam and New Zealand.

Final teams and tournament format will be finalised later, but WBSC Oceania features 20 members and has a spot in WBSC World Cup events.

The tournament counts for valuable World Ranking Points.

If Australia qualifies for the 2027 U18 World Cup, players across the country will be closely evaluated during the 2027 U18 Australian Youth Championships in January. From there, a squad will be picked for an August 2027 Selection Camp, where a roster for the World Cup will be selected.

“This selection camp allows us to see identified players 12 months out from an U18 World Cup as we head towards the qualifiers and then a huge 2027 for this age group,” said Riddell. “We are really looking forward to seeing all of the players compete against each other. There’s a nice mix of second-year U16 players, first-year U18 players and other standouts from the 2026 AYC.”

He credits the AYC and also evaluations run by Team Australia staff and Driveline in April as a key driver of squad selection.

“We were also able to go around to each state in April with the guys from Driveline and run evaluations and assessments of each player. The results and feedback have then shaped the winter program, and we couldn’t be more excited to now see them again in September to see the progression they have all made from January and April,” he says.

They will be guided by a number of current and former Team Australia players, including Aaron Whitefield, Chris Burke, Jarryd Dale, Sam Holland, Tim Kennelly and Josh Tols.
Riddell says this is a key cultural piece of the puzzle.

“It’s important for the younger players to be around these guys and learn from them both in a coaching aspect but also off the field and what it means to play for Team Australia,” he says. “It also shows them what a future could look like that isn’t unattainable. Learning the foundations of the Team Australia culture will just bring us closer as a community.”

The selection camp is part of a busy stretch for Team Australia. The U15 squad departs for Mexico for the U15 World Cup later in the month. The U23 World Cup is playing in Nicaragua in November. Australia also confirmed participation in the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championships (APBC) in November in Tokyo.

All events are worth valuable World Ranking Points.

IN SUMMARY
– 36 players have been invited to an Under-18 Qualifier Selection Camp in Melbourne;

– A 20-man roster will be named for the 2026 Under-18 Oceania Championships in Sydney in December, serving as a qualifying event for the World Cup;

– Players will continue to be evaluated in 2027 at events like the Australian Youth Championships, further Driveline programs and an August selection camp;

– Current and former Team Australia players will help administer the camp;

09 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Community

A few Headline Stories from Australians in Baseball: Wednesday 9 September

There’s always something happening in Australian baseball, particularly when you start looking at what our players are doing around the world.

I spend a lot of time following Aussies playing overseas. Along the way, I come across little stories, interviews, quotes and performances that catch my attention.

So, I thought it would be fun to start collecting some of them in one place.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. It’s simply a collection of things that have stood out to me over the last few weeks, from Aussies climbing the professional ranks and chasing championships overseas, to a few cool stories closer to home.

Hopefully this can grow.

In future editions, I’d love to include more stories from around Australian baseball itself. If something interesting is happening at your club, with a player, coach, volunteer or anyone else in our baseball community, let us know. There are plenty of great stories out there. We just need to hear about them.

For now, here are a few things that have caught my eye lately.

Patrick Davies Commits

I’d like to begin with a feel-good story of perseverance.

Patrick Davies, a product of Kensington Baseball Club in South Australia, has just committed to Frank Phillips College, a JUCO in Texas.

It’s an awesome story of determination. He trialled but was never chosen for an AYC team at either U16 or U18 level. He only started concentrating on pitching over the last two years and is now following his dreams.

He’s not a professional and is just starting his journey, but it’s a great feel-good moment. Let’s start there…

A string of recent Aussie call-ups in Minor League Baseball

On the theme of feel-good stories…

As the baseball season winds down in the USA, a number of Australians have earned call-ups. They include:

– Infielder Clayton Campbell was called up to Double-A Erie (Detroit). Campbell put up career-best numbers in High-A and has posted a .300 average through his first 10 games at his new level. There’s a great feature on Campbell on FanGraphs. He talks about the off-season work he put in at Driveline. More on that later in the story.

– Infielder Brent Iredale was called up from Single-A to High-A Greensboro in the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation. Iredale caught fire in August, hitting five homers and mashing out an OPS of 1.005. There’s actually a nice podcast interview with Iredale for those interested, where he discusses having to spend about 12 hours signing cards, his rehab assignment, Australian baseball and his path from Sydney to the Pirates.

– Team Australia left-handed pitcher Blake Townsend was called up to Triple-A Round Rock (Texas). He allowed four runs across his first 9.2 innings after the promotion.

– Right-handed pitcher Kai Noa Wynyard was promoted to Double-A Frisco (Texas) after a solid season in High-A. He had a scoreless relief inning during his debut on the weekend.

Four Aussies prepare for Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) Finals

The playoffs of the inaugural WPBL season are set, beginning with two best-of-three semi-final series from September 9-14.

In Australia, you can watch all the games for free on the WPBL YouTube Channel.

The Aussie women have represented well.

Claire O’Sullivan has claimed some recent headlines by hitting .407 in 13 games, while posting a 3.50 ERA in 16.0 innings pitched. Her coach also singled her out and said she’d get more playing time. There’s a great feature on her from Channel Nine, where she stated: “I’ve dropped everything so that I could come do this.”

Caitlin Eynon hit .395 on the season. There’s a great feature on her on This is Women’s Baseball. My big takeaway is how she describes her mentality and work ethic: “Reps remove doubt.”

Both playing for Boston, Ticara Geldenhuis and Molly Paddison made meaningful contributions during the season too. Ticara hit .250 with two homers, while Paddison hit .255 in 15 games played.

Paddison was also featured in the Channel Nine article. She’s a great story, and this is the first thing she’s done since graduating high school last year.

How is that for a first job?

I loved this quote: “You can always get money back, but you can’t get experiences like this back.”

No. 1 seed San Francisco plays No. 4 Boston, while No. 2 New York takes on No. 3 Los Angeles. The winners of the two best-of-three series advance to the Championship Series.

More details can be found on the WPBL website.

Cooper Morgan is a STAR

He is one of the best pitchers in the Frontier League.

Morgan has been a key cog for the reigning champion Quebec Capitales. He has a 2.09 ERA in 51 appearances out of the bullpen, with 77 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. His ERA ranks third among all qualified pitchers.

Long-time Quebec baseball writer Maurice Dumas described Morgan as the club’s “most reliable pitcher all season”, while Capitales broadcaster Pierre Blais gave the Australian his vote as Quebec’s best pitcher of 2026.

He was recently joined on the Quebec roster by Luke Krkovski, who just won the minor league strikeout title while pitching in Mexico.

Standouts from the Minor League season

Touching back to the world of Minor League Baseball…

The High-A and Single-A regular seasons wrapped up on the weekend, with playoffs starting this week.

Double-A playoffs begin September 15. Triple-A playoffs start September 22.

It’s been a fun year for Aussies in the minor leagues. Here are some highlights and notes:

– There are 26 Australians currently signed to MLB or MLB-affiliate contracts.

– Four Australians entered the minor league system in 2026: Patrick Crotty, Ashton Kennedy, Jimmy Nati and John Lemm.

– Three Aussies have played in the Majors: Travis Bazzana, Curtis Mead and Brandan Bidois. Bazzana was an MLB All-Star.

– Drew Davies leads the Florida State League (Single-A) in on-base percentage. The South Australian is having a career year in the Reds organisation, following up an ABL Rookie of the Year campaign. In 101 games, Davies is hitting .278 with a .414 OBP and .829 OPS

– One of the more interesting Australian stories this season belongs to BJay Cooke. After spending the previous few years trying to make it as an infielder, the Western Australian returned to the mound in 2026. Cooke made 33 appearances out of the bullpen for Single-A Stockton, finishing with a 4.06 ERA and 40 strikeouts across 44.1 innings.

– Clayton Campbell turned in the best year of his minor league career. The 23-year-old from Sydney hit .257 with a .745 OPS in High-A with the Tigers. A couple of weeks ago, he was called up to Double-A and he’s 12-for-40 with a homer in his first 10 games. A big thing for Campbell has been his consistency across the year. In an article with FanGraphs, he credits his off-season program at Driveline and an alteration to his swing.

“The biggest thing was working on pulling the ball in the air with backspin. I did some bat-speed training, as well. I came to spring training with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder,” Campbell went on to say. “The last few years I haven’t really done the best, but this year I feel like I’ve been swinging at the right pitches, taking my walks, hitting for some power, and playing good defense. That’s all I can ask for. I’m just going out there trying to do my best and help the team win.”

– Brent Iredale has taken flight, ladies and gentlemen. Last year’s draft pick out of Arkansas has found his feet as a pro. His 1.005 OPS in August in Single-A Bradenton was impressive enough to earn a call-up.

– There’s an Aussie combination at Triple-A, too. Mitch Neunborn continues to pitch for Lehigh Valley under fellow Australian Chris Adamson. Neunborn earned his promotion from Double-A in June and has remained with the IronPigs since, aside from a brief stint on the injured list. He has a 3.38 ERA in 21.1 innings, making him one of the more reliable options.

You can track how all professional Aussies are doing via Aussie Baseball Tracker.

Travis Bazzana is playing a key role in the Cleveland Guardians’ playoff chase

At the time of this story, the Guardians are one game clear for the final American League Wild Card spot as the Major League Baseball season enters its final weeks.

On Friday, Bazzana delivered one of the biggest performances of his young Major League career.

The 24-year-old entered the second game of a doubleheader against Detroit off the bench before crushing a two-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game. Two innings later, he did it again, singling up the middle to walk it off in the 10th.

“It’s that time of year where you’ve got to make stuff happen, and this team does that,” Bazzana told MLB.com after the game.

The performance came at a good time for the Australian, who admitted he hadn’t been at his best recently.

“I think I needed that, those close games and to just get out of my head and compete,” he said. “Hopefully I can take that through September.”

Ryde Little League has the time of their life

On the theme of Travis Bazzana, his junior baseball charter Ryde represented Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport.

And while the results didn’t go their way, it’s hard to imagine the group of youngsters having a better experience.

Some highlights:

– Playing on ESPN as part of the most-watched Little League World Series since 2015. The tournament averaged 1.1 million viewers per game across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC;

– Meeting former Ryde junior Travis Bazzana before a Cleveland Guardians game, including a tour of Progressive Field and the Guardians clubhouse;

– Coach Paul Jones going viral for a positive pep talk to one of his players;

– Going viral again for squeezing in an extra, unscheduled game against a local American team.

Talk about soaking it up.

The Bazzana connection was particularly cool. He played at Ryde from the age of nine through 17, and some of the same people involved in the charter today helped him during his junior days.

“Before I ever stepped foot in professional baseball, I wanted to do enough and have a career that people would want to aspire to be like,” Bazzana told MLB.com. “To now be doing that is really fulfilling.”

Shoutout as well to the Ryde charter in general. Their efforts across local media, advertising and social media to leverage the opportunity and promote their club have been well noted.

Aussie umpire at Little League

Tip of the cap to Mark Stone, who umpired at the Little League World Series as Australia’s umpiring representative.

Full credit to the Baseball Australia crew and umpiring officials who helped Stone prepare.

First off, Stone earned this opportunity. But at the Little League World Series, it is a four-man crew. It’s something we don’t have heaps of experience with Down Under.

During the 2026 Little League Championships, tournament organisers ensured every game Stone umpired had a four-man crew, flying in extra officials to make it happen.

That’s supporting your community.

I love it.

Mead on the Mend

Curtis Mead’s breakout season has been well documented. It was a bit of a surprise, and a huge opportunity, when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline.

Then came some pure rotten luck.

In just his second plate appearance with his new club, Mead was hit by a pitch and fractured his left wrist. He hasn’t played since July 27.

But there are some encouraging signs. Mead has been spotted throwing again, fuelling hope of a return before the end of the regular season.

The Red Sox are in a Wild Card position and could be playing October baseball.

If Mead can get healthy in time to be part of it, that should garner headlines in Australia.

Huge couple of months incoming for Team Australia

Our national teams are busy…

September: Under 18 Selection Camp

September/October: Under 15 World Cup in Mexico

November: Under 23 World Cup in Nicaragua

November: Asia Professional Baseball Championship

November: 2026 U12 Oceania Championships / World Cup Qualifiers

December: 2026 U18 Oceania Championships / World Cup Qualifiers

All of these events are worth World Ranking Points.

Can’t wait to cheer on the Green & Gold.

Aussies in Asia

A quick note on Australians in Asia.

After a tremendous start to the season with the LG Twins in the Korean Baseball Organisation, Lachlan Wells suffered a shoulder injury that cut his season short.

His replacement? Long-time Team Australia arm Jon Kennedy.

And there was a nice Australian connection to the changeover. Kennedy has known Wells since they were teenagers, and Wells helped prepare his national teammate for life in Korea.

“Lachlan and I are good teammates. I have known him since we were both teenagers,” Kennedy told Yonhap News. “We go a long way back.”

Kennedy even inherited Wells’ No. 68.

He was thrown straight into the fire on his KBO debut, entering a 1-0 game with a runner aboard in the eighth inning. Four pitches later, Kennedy had induced an inning-ending double play.

“I didn’t expect to come into such a tense situation,” Kennedy said after the game. “In a way, pitching in that situation in my first appearance should make it easier for me going forward.”

Kennedy has now pitched nine times for LG, posting a 4.00 ERA across nine innings.

Alex Hall finished his season in the Futures League with the Ulsan Whales, hitting .265 with a .763 OPS.

In total, five Australians played professionally in Korea this season.

Meanwhile, Jack O’Loughlin’s Asian adventure continues. After making 17 starts for the Samsung Lions earlier this year, the South Australian is now pitching in the minor leagues of Taiwan’s CPBL with the CTBC Brothers.

Hickey’s Triple Crown

I leave you with this. I promise, it’s real.

Geelong’s Connor Hickey put up what some are calling the greatest season in Pecos League history…

49 games. 26 homers. 82 RBI. .490 average. 1.494 OPS.

!!!!!!

Local Baseball About To Begin

I get it. All those notes were Aussies abroad. See something cool in the community? I’m sure the Baseball Australia team would love to hear about it. Email it through to marketing@baseball.com.au.

Hope you feel more informed!

—

Eric Balnar is a baseball broadcaster and writer based in Adelaide who has covered Australian baseball for more than a decade.

07 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Feature Stories

HALL OF FAME STORIES: MARK HUTTON GETS HIS CALL TO THE HALL

Mark Hutton will forever have the word ‘first’ attached to him when it comes to Australian baseball.

It’s no surprise he was part of the most recent Australian Baseball Hall of Fame class.

A strong, powerful 6’6” right-handed pitcher from Sturt Baseball Club, Hutton helped forge the way for future Australians, breaking barriers at the Major League level.

His list of accomplishments are, well, Hall of Fame worthy.

Hutton was the sixth Australian to ever reach the top league in the world. He stayed there for five seasons in a career spanning from 1993 to 1998, enjoying stops with the New York Yankees, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Cincinatti Reds.

He was the first South Australian to reach the Major Leagues. He was the first Australian pitcher to ever start an MLB game.

He was also among the first Australians to win a World Series ring – and the first to earn two.

Hutton played with the New York Yankees from 1993 to 1996. Although he was traded mid-season to the Florida Marlins, the Yankees eventually won the championship and Hutton received a World Series ring for his first-half efforts with the club.

MEET THE INDUCTEES: The 2025 Baseball Australia Hall of Fame Class

Hutton was traded mid-season again in 1997, this time from the Marlins to the Colorado Rockies. The Marlins eventually won the World Series and Hutton was awarded another World Series ring for his efforts.

“I feel extremely fortunate to have been part of two great teams in the New York Yankees and Florida Marlins,” says Hutton. “I look at those rings with enormous pride.”

After his MLB career, Hutton focused on his Australian national team career, playing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But for all his MLB accomplishments, World Series rings and Olympic appearances, it all started by throwing a ball at Sturt Baseball Club in Adelaide, South Australia.

The Hutton name was already a prolific one in South Australian baseball circles. His father David is a South Australian Baseball Hall of Famer. But Mark elevated it to a whole other level.

He rose through the ranks of South Australian baseball, signing a contract with the New York Yankees as an 18-year-old in 1988. He worked his way through the minor league system for five years before making his MLB debut with the Yankees on July 23, 1993 in a game vs the California Angels.

It was on that date that he became the first Australian to start an MLB game as a pitcher, he was 23 years old. He threw a remarkable eight innings in his debut, earning the love of his teammates and respect of the media, with Mark appearing on the front and back of the New York Post.

Mark’s former minor league teammate JT Snow was playing in the opposing Angels team and said “He was just having fun while the rest of us were stressing about making it to the big leagues.

“It looked like he was having all the fun again tonight.”

That may just sum up the style Mark Hutton played.

At his peak, he could throw his fastball at 95–96 miles per hour.

Hutton says he could never have imagined his career would take him where it did.

“Not in a million years could I have anticipated what was to come,” he said. “I knew when I signed [with the Yankees] it was one of the biggest sporting organisations in the world. It was life changing.”

On the theme of life-changing experiences, Hutton also had an opportunity not many people ever get: playing in an Olympics at home.

“[The Sydney Olympics] is without a doubt one of my greatest baseball highlights. I will never forget that honour of representing my country at the highest level,” he says.

Hutton now resides back in Adelaide with his family. You can still see him around the diamonds at Sturt, South Australian club ball fields and Adelaide Giants games. In fact, the main grandstand at West Beach is named in his honour.

“I hope my legacy is helping inspire the continued growth of young kids playing baseball in Australia, and showing that making it to the Major Leagues is achievable,” he says.

“There are so many people I would like to thank along the way – my parents, for taking me to all those games, my coaches who supported me, and my wife for being there throughout the baseball journey in the USA.”

30 July 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad Aussies Sign Pro

Jack O'Loughlin lands contract with Taiwanese powerhouse CTBC Brothers

Jack O’Loughlin has his next opportunity in Asia.

The South Australian left-hander has officially signed with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), just two weeks after departing the Samsung Lions in Korea.

The move keeps O’Loughlin in one of Asia’s premier professional leagues and gives the 26-year-old another chance to establish himself as a frontline starter.

His path to Taiwan was sparked by an outstanding World Baseball Classic campaign earlier this year.

O’Loughlin threw 3.0 scoreless innings against Chinese Taipei before backing it up with another strong outing against Korea, finishing the tournament without allowing an earned run across 6.1 innings against two of the world’s top baseball nations.

Those performances earned him his first KBO opportunity with the Samsung Lions.

He made 17 starts for Samsung during the 2026 season, posting a 4.86 ERA across 83.1 innings while striking out 81 batters before parting ways with the club in mid-July.

Taiwanese clubs moved quickly.

Reports emerged last week that the CTBC Brothers were closing in on a deal, with O’Loughlin travelling to Taiwan to train alongside the club while completing medicals and evaluation sessions before a contract was finalised.

The signing marks another chapter in an already well-travelled professional career.

Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers as a teenager, O’Loughlin spent seven seasons in affiliated baseball before making his Major League debut with the Athletics in 2024. He later joined the Colorado Rockies organisation before returning to Australia to pitch for the Adelaide Giants, where he developed into one of the Australian Baseball League’s premier starters and helped the club capture multiple Claxton Shield championships.

The South Australian now becomes one of the latest Australians to continue their careers across Asia, adding the CPBL to a résumé that already includes Major League Baseball, the KBO and the ABL.

The CTBC Brothers are one of Taiwan’s most successful clubs and are currently in the hunt for another CPBL championship, giving O’Loughlin the opportunity to contribute immediately as the season enters its crucial stretch.

30 July 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

College Baseball

Victoria's Sam Walk set for NCAA Division I Opportunity at St. Thomas

Victorian two-way prospect Sam Walk will continue his baseball and academic journey in the United States after committing to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Walk builds on a growing number of Australians playing Division I baseball in the USA. In 2025, there were 20 players at top-tier US programs.

Walk, who plays for Sandringham Baseball Club during the summer and North Balwyn Baseball Club in the winter, will study Business while competing at the NCAA Division I level.

Primarily a catcher, Walk has also developed into a promising pitcher over the past year and is eager to continue refining both sides of his game.

“The opportunity to train and compete every day in a Division I program is something I’ve been working towards for a long time,” Walk says. “While catcher is still my main position, I’ve really enjoyed pitching more over the past year. I’m looking forward to continuing that development as a two-way player, learning from the coaching staff and becoming the best player I can be in whatever role I’m asked to fill.”

Walk believes his versatility, competitiveness and willingness to put in the work have helped him earn the opportunity.

“I think my biggest strengths are my work ethic, competitiveness and versatility,” he says. “Offensively, I’ve worked hard to take my hitting to another level over the past few years.”

He credits the Victorian baseball community for the progression in his game.

“Aaron Whitfield and Neil Burke have had a huge impact on my development, helping me improve my approach, become more consistent and grow into a more complete hitter,” says Walk. “I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to work with coaches at club, state and national level who have challenged me to keep developing both on and off the field.”

MORE COLLEGE STORIES: Click here

Those improvements were on full display at the 2026 Australian Youth Championships, where Walk helped Victoria claim the gold medal while leading the tournament with a remarkable .650 batting average.

His experiences representing Victoria, competing at the AYCs and showcasing in the United States have all helped prepare him for the next step.

“They’ve given me the chance to compete against some of the best players in Australia and overseas while learning how to perform under pressure,” Walk says.

Once he arrives in Minnesota this August, Walk hopes to continue building his offensive game while developing into a complete two-way player.

“I want to become a more consistent hitter against elite pitching, keep getting stronger and more athletic, and continue improving behind the plate,” he says. “I’ve made a lot of progress over the past year, but there’s still plenty to learn. I want to keep improving my approach, pitch recognition and ability to perform consistently against high-level pitching.”

On the mound, Walk’s repertoire continues to expand, with a four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter and change-up now making up his pitch mix.

He credits his parents and the many coaches who have supported him throughout his journey for helping him reach this point.

“My parents have made countless sacrifices over the years, travelling with me, supporting my goals and giving me every opportunity to improve,” Walk says.

Walk will depart for the United States in August as he begins the next chapter of his baseball career.

28 July 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Community

Hall of Fame Chats: Craig Anderson

Early this year, Baseball Australia revealed six new additions to the Australian Baseball Hall of Fame.

It’s a rightfully a hard group to crack. You have to be among the best to ever to it in this country.

I’ve decided to try to talk to all of our newest inductees to learn a little bit more about their journey in baseball, some of their great moments and ultimately how their hall of frame brains work. You can read about them all here.

Next up in our chats? Gosford’s Craig Anderson.

PAST CHATS: Samantha Hamilton

Anderson enjoyed nearly a 20 year professional career in the United State in Australia. He reached as high as Triple-A in the minor league system, played in two Olympics, won a silver medal, and compete in two World Baseball Classics.

He also contributed strongly on the mound in Sydney with the Blue Sox and New South Wales.

He pitched the first nine seasons of the modern-day ABL, currently holds the record for most games started as a pitcher (88), innings pitched (556.2), and is second for most wins (35). He finished his career 35–32 with a 3.61 ERA in 99 games.

OLYMPIC FEATURE: Read about the 2004 Australian Olympic Team

What’s fascinating in this conversation with Craig is how he clearly values his time spent with people. All of his individual successes completely deflect to those around him.

Enjoy the glimpse into the mind of one of Australia’s best!

27 July 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Team Australia Women's Baseball

Resilient Emeralds walk-off Canada in wildest game of Women's World Cup, advances to Finals

Insanity.

The Emeralds overcame sweltering heat, multiple player injuries, two five-run deficits and a 3 hour, 30 minute marathon to walk off Canada 14-13 in one of the games of the Women’s Baseball World Cup.

Molly Paddison came through with a two-out RBI single to tie it at 13, before Elodie O’Sullivan drove in the winning run.

Australia had plenty of reasons to fold.

First, they had already secured their place in the World Cup Final and it was 40 degrees outside.

Then, star players Lili Cavanagh, Abbey Kelly, Caitlin Eynon and Chloe Atkinson all departed the game due to either injury or heat exhaustion.

But that’s not the Australian way.

The win, like the others this week, took a little bit of magic from everyone involved.

Australia trailed 3-0 in the first, 8-3 in the fourth, 12-7 in the fifth and were down to their final strike in the last.

It didn’t matter. Australia just found a way.

“That is one of the gutsiest wins I have ever been apart of. We just had this next woman up mentality. I could not be prouder of this group and prouder to be an Australian today,” said manager Jason Pospishil after the game.

Leah Cornish was outstanding again. She collected three hits to take her tournament-leading total to 12, made two terrific plays in foul territory to save runs, and then threw a scoreless sixth inning to keep Canada’s powerful offence at bay.

“Simply, she’s one of the best two way players in the world,” said Pospishil.

Molly Paddison was immense. She crushed a game-tying two-run homer in the first inning, then tied the game again with two outs in the seventh.

Caitlin Eynon launched a two-out grand slam in the fourth to cut Canada’s lead to 8-7.

Jamie Bastian executed a perfect suicide squeeze to tie the game in the sixth.

Pitchers Claire O’Sullivan, Jess Johnson, Brittney Baker, Mackenzie Jackson, Leah Cornish and Maddi Erwin all battled through defensive miscues but came up with key outs when Australia needed them most.
Paddison and Eynon both homered.

Australia finishes the group stage 4-1 and advances to the Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals in Rockford in 2027, where they will be one of six nations competing for gold.

HERE’S HOW IT UNFOLDED

Canada matched the weather with a scorching start. Three consecutive two-out hits produced three runs in the opening inning.

Australia answered immediately.

Leah Cornish delivered a two-out RBI single to put the Emeralds on the board before 18-year-old Molly Paddison launched the first Women’s World Cup home run of her career to tie the game at three.

Canada responded again.

Four straight baserunners helped chase starter Claire O’Sullivan from the game after the Canadians cashed in twice.
Jess Johnson, fresh off 2.2 scoreless innings against the United States, entered with two on and one out.
She escaped the second inning, but Canada struck again in the third.

RBI singles from Frederique Noel and Emily Baxter, along with a wild pitch, extended the lead to 8-3.

Reliever Brittney Baker then steadied things with 1.1 scoreless innings, giving Australia a chance to respond.
Captain Caitlin Eynon did exactly that, crushing a grand slam to make it 8-7.

The momentum didn’t last long.

Australia was hurt by a pair of errors in the fifth, opening the door for Canada to score four runs and restore a five-run advantage. 12-7

The Emeralds answered again.

They loaded the bases, manufactured one run, before Cornish ripped a two-run double for her third hit of the afternoon.
12-11.

Cornish was then called upon in relief and delivered a scoreless sixth inning.

Australia kept coming.

Jamie Bastian laid down a perfect suicide squeeze to score Elodie O’Sullivan and tie the game at 12.

Caitlin Eynon was scheduled to pitch the seventh, but tweaked a muscle during warm-ups.

In came Maddi Erwin.

She limited Canada to one run and navigated a bases-loaded jam to keep Australia within striking distance.
Then came the finish.

With two outs, two strikes and a runner on third, Molly Paddison delivered yet again, lining a clutch RBI single to tie the game at 13.

Moments later, Elodie O’Sullivan drove home the winning run.

Insane.

BOX SCORE: Australia vs Canada

26 July 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

- Aussies Abroad

Curtis Mead traded to the Boston Red Sox amidst career year

Australian infielder Curtis Mead is on the move again, with the 25-year-old South Australian traded from the Washington Nationals to the Boston Red Sox in one of the first significant deals ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline.

Mead joins his third team of the 2026 season, after beginning the year with the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox acquired Mead in exchange for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early, adding one of the breakout hitters of the 2026 MLB season as they strengthen their roster for a postseason push.

Boston has surged back into American League playoff contention and Mead figures to be a key part of their plans.

After beginning the year with the Chicago White Sox, Mead was designated for assignment before Opening Day and subsequently traded to Washington. Four months later, he finds himself headed to one of baseball’s most iconic franchises after establishing himself as one of the Nationals’ most productive offensive players.

Splitting time between first base and third base, Mead has produced a breakout campaign at the plate, slashing .256/.351/.505 with 17 home runs. After hitting just eight home runs across his first three Major League seasons combined, the Australian has unlocked a new level of power while posting an OPS+ of 136, making him 36 per cent better than the league-average hitter this season.

He sits just four homers behind Dave Nilsson’s single season MLB record for an Australia (21).

A product of Adelaide, Mead signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a teenager before spending time in the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals organisations. Boston now becomes the fourth Major League organisation of his professional career and presents another opportunity for the Team Australia infielder to make an impact on the game’s biggest stage.

Mead is one of 27 Australians currently signed to Major or Minor League affiliated contracts and joins a Red Sox club with genuine aspirations of competing deep into October.