20 December 2023
Team Australia will be fighting for the title of “World Champion” in November, 2024.
Australia was confirmed as one of 12 participants this morning at the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) flagship event, “The Premier12”.
This is baseball’s equivalent to a World Championship, featuring the Top 12 baseball ranked men’s teams in the world.
At #11, Australia has secured a spot.
16 December 2023
by Kristin Sims
Forward: Ashleigh Hort who plays with the Kalamunda Rangers in Western Australia, recently spearheaded a Pride Round between the Rangers and the University of Western Australia Magpies team. The idea from Hort was to create an environment where people “felt comfortable and had a safe space to try a new sport”.
It took a year of hard work, but Kalamunda player Ashleigh Hort planned a community event within her baseball club that brought people to the club and made the day feel “bigger than a grand final”.
It’s not easy planning an event, especially at club-level. But when it came to Hort’s inaugural ‘Pride Day’ at Kalamunda Baseball Club, it delivered in spades. It was everything Hort hoped for and more.
Wanting people to feel safe in the sport she loves playing herself, Hort left no stone unturned to create the event and spread awareness within the baseball and local community.
When it came to the day, the atmosphere was everything that Hort was hoping for and more. Having a master of ceremonies at the game meant the crowd was hyped up, and the players had the rare occurrence of having their names announced and music when entering the field.
It truly was an experience like no other for the players who were lucky enough to play on the day.
“The atmosphere down at the ground was like nothing else; it was not even the same as a Grand Final that I played in,” Hort tells Baseball Australia Media.
“The vibe at this game was just completely different and it was amazing to be a part of something like that. Everyone was just super hyped and was so excited to be playing,” Hort adds.
This energy didn’t just happen, the planning and effort that Hort had put in for over a year meant that the day was bigger than just the baseball game.
“I wanted to bring awareness and make the round really worth it so I reached out to the Western Australian Aids council to see if they would take our earnings for the day,” Hort told Baseball Australia Media.
The fundraising effort revolved around a raffle, bake sale and the sale of Pride Kalamunda Rangers visors created for the day. The sales cemented the support for the event from the wider WA baseball community and resulted in a sizable donation of close to $2,000 to the WA Aids council which Hort says made all the hard work feel like it had paid off.
“We had over 50 prizes in the raffle with some really great prizes donated so I knew that people were going to get something good and that was also really rewarding,” Hort says. “I was so shocked but it made the hard work feel with it and the whole day was worth it.”
Some of the major prizes included a match worn Perth Heat jersey and training session from Sam Kennelly, plus a used bat from further WA baseball great Tim Kennelly. The support from names so big in WA baseball cemented the hard work that Hort put into the event.
“It feels so good when you get support and love from people at a bigger level than what you would normally be able to achieve, it just creates something different,” Hort says.
“People look up to players like that, so it hits a completely different mark when they get involved and are supporting and loving on club baseball and putting their time and effort into it.”
The next step for Hort, was to organise sponsors for the day this involved her cold calling and visiting local stores.
“I spent time emailing businesses to find sponsors and we were able to get our jerseys sponsored for the game, the business was over the moon to help the local community to start something new.” Hort added.
“It was also a great way to get them down to the ground and to watch our game.”
Of course, for any game to go ahead you need to have an opponent, and for Hort the decision on who to play came quite easily. The only issue was hoping they would want to be part of the event.
“Very early on I decided to reach out to the UWA Magpies to see if they wanted to be a part of it and they did not bat an eyelid before they said yes,” Said Hort.
“They have a few people in the queer community on their team, so I think that it was a really proud moment for them to be a part of it.”
Hort goes on to explain that the relationship between the two clubs is something that has been building over the past few years and it was the off-field relationship between the two teams that helped build the foundation for the game.
“We often refer to ourselves as sister clubs but it can be really hard to get past the battle of trying to win on the field and then still have a good rapport and friendship off the diamond, but we have really created that with UWA,” Hort said.
“I think it was a really nice safe space for us all on the day and I am amazed at the relationship we have built with this club over the past few years.
“I know not everyone supports pride and I never want to force it on anyone but I think it can really help build bonds between clubs because they may have people on their team in the community and it can help people to have a sense of pride and represent the community but to also have that ally ship between them.” she said.
Hort says she gave all players the option to not participate, or not wear the pride jersey on the day because it was important that people did not feel forced as at the heart of it that is not what pride represents.
As a testament to the effort that Hort put into making those involved feel respected, she did not have any pushback when it came to taking the diamond.
“I always put it out there that if you did not want to participate then that is fine, but we had none of that,” said Hort.
“But they just kept telling me how keen they were to play which helped create a special environment on the day.
“Everyone was so respectful and played with great sportsmanship, it was such a wholesome environment to be involved in.”
After holding such a successful event the planning is already on the way for the next one. Hort has a few ideas on her mind but wants the event to grow to a level where it’s not just her club playing but possibly getting all the women’s teams on board.
For now, though Hort wants to focus on getting the event right the second time around.
“I can’t wait for next year and then to see it grow from there, the first year is about learning what you can do better and what you can learn from, at a bare minimum we are locking in next year I am just not sure what scale it will be yet because my dreams are high,”
“I know we want to continue to play the Magpies and have that as our round to verse going forward. I hope that we can have our clubs on board and not just the women’s teams, I know I have that support from my club which is huge.” Hort Concluded.
If you would like to learn more about the Kalamunda Rangers, follow their Facebook page and keep an eye on Baseball WA for more information on women’s baseball in the state.
15 December 2023
Baseball Australia is pleased to announce the media team has been named a finalist for a prestigious ASC Media Awards.
The team is a finalist for “Best Coverage of a Sport by an Organisation or Club” for their work covering the World Baseball Classic in February/March 2023 across Baseball.com.au, Team Australia Baseball social media, and with traditional media.
The four finalists in the category are:
– Baseball Australia, World Baseball Classic
– Football Australia, Matildas’ World Cup Campaign
– Netball Australia, Diamonds’ World Cup Campaign
– Paramatta Eels, 2023 NRL and NRLW seasons
The ASC Sports Media Awards are highly coveted by organisations, media outlets and personalities alike. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in February 2023.
You can read about the awards and all the incredible finalists here.
The Australian WBC media crew aimed to bring the world closer to the Australian national baseball team, by providing multimedia stories, articles, video, photos and behind the scenes content.
They provided a variety of content in different forms for media outlets across the country to help amplify Australia’s historic quarterfinal run at the World Baseball Classic.
Stories covered a wide range of topics – from baseball specific stories on strategy and preparation, to how a Japanese town is supporting Australia, to the meaning of an emblem on the jersey, to how the team is living abroad and everything in between.
There were long form stories, player-focused videos, engaging photos and behind-the-scenes content.
Catch up on some of our favourite stories from the World Baseball Classic run:
Stories provided by Baseball Australia were picked up by news agencies all around the world including ESPN, MLB.com, Al Jazeera, Sydney Morning Herald and Japan Times. There were over 22,000 photo downloads from news agencies with media subscriptions to SMP from images taken by the Team Australia crew.
Social media content reached millions of people, with numerous viral videos. Baseball.com.au experienced a record surge in web traffic engaging with long-form features and game recaps. Our sport cut through to the mainstream.
Australian baseball players captured the hearts of Japanese people, building a significant fanbase amongst locals. Videos like these endeared Japanese fans.
Coverage started at Team Australia’s training camp in Fuchu City where Baseball Australia Media provided access through daily stories.
To view most of the coverage provided by Team Australia media, please visit www.baseball.com.au/wbc23
The Baseball Australia Media Team at the World Baseball Classic consist of:
– Kaitlin Mason – Baseball Australia Communications, Marketing and Media Manager
– Eric Balnar – Head storyteller, writer, media manager, digital media coordinator and social media
– Scott Powick (SMP Images) – Head of photography
– Wendy Powick (SMP Images) – Photos and video
– Hugh Whittle – Videographer and photo
– Taiki Green – Director of Skin in the Game
13 December 2023
- Aussies Abroad Aussies Sign Pro
photos by Hugh Whittle
In 2022, Drew Davies came dangerously close to becoming one of the youngest players on Australia’s Under 18 World Cup team.
The then-16-year-old was in the last round of cuts at Australia’s Florida-based training camp, where the international event was being held.
While it may not be common for 16-year-olds to make an U18 national team, Davies says that moment was a turning point for him in his baseball career. He says that’s when he realised baseball could be a serious profession for him.
“That [experience] showed me where I needed to be, where I wanted to go, and how I had to work harder to get there,” says Davies.
Hard work just paid off for Davies. He’s turning pro.
Drew Davies is the latest Australian to sign an MLB-affiliate contract, after putting pen to paper with the Cincinatti Reds on Tuesday afternoon surrounded by family in West Beach, South Australia.
“This has always been a goal for me,” says Davies, an 18-year-old from Woodcroft. “Baseball and turning pro has always been in the back of my mind, but things really became serious when it comes to baseball with that 2022 World Cup.”
Davies says he upped his game when he returned from national camp.
“When I came back [ from Florida], I started to train like I was already a professional. I tried to train as much as I can, work around school, and get in as many reps as I possibly could.”
That mindset led Davies to a big 15-months of baseball and a lot of individual success.
Since September last year, the 6’4 left-handed bat starred for South Australia at the U18 National Championships, trained with the ABL’s Adelaide Giants, patrolled the outfield for South Australia’s Southern Districts Hawks, and caught the eye of scouts and colleges alike.
He was also named to Australia’s 2023 U18 World Cup squad but was unable to travel due to a broken finger.
Whatever Davies was doing, people noticed.
The Under 18 National Championships in January 2023 was where Davies caught the eye of Reds’ scout and former MLB player Donald Lutz.
“I really liked his swing,” says a smiling Lutz. “It looked really good. I liked his aggression. He’s got a good body. He has the tools to be a really good baseball player. When it comes down to it, the Reds think he’s got what it takes.”
Davies lit those U18 championships ablaze. In nine games, he went 17-for-27 with 2HR and 16RBI, leading South Australia to a 6-3 record.
“I think he’s a good player, good guy, and he’ll fit into any clubhouse,” Lutz adds. “Keep your eye on him.”
Baseball South Australia’s high performance manager Austin Gallagher agrees. He says he can see why Donald Lutz, Adam Crabb and the rest of the Cincinatti Reds scouts had a keen interest in signing him.
“He proved he’s one of the top talents in Australia at the [Under 18s],” says Gallagher. “He works really hard and is consistent with it. The positive about Drew is you can’t really tell if he’s going good or going bad – he always stays consistent with his approach and how he goes about things.”
His contract doesn’t surprise his former coaches, either. Just ask the person who helped get him into baseball. Davies’ neighbour, former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect and Adelaide Giants pitcher Nick Hutchings, was the one who introduced him to the game.
Davies started playing tee-ball at local club Southern Districts, Hutchings’ club, and the love grew from there. He still plays for Southern Districts and helped them snap a two-decade long finals drought in 2022.
Hutchings says it’s hard not to notice what everyone else does.
“The sweet left-handed swing has everyone in awe,” Hutchings says. “He stays through the zone and has power to the opposite field. Then you add in the size and people definitely took a big interest.”
Davies credits Southern Districts and the South Australian baseball community for helping him develop.
“They’ve been huge, I wouldn’t be here without them,” he says. “Nick Hutchings has been a big influence, all my charter coaches, all the club coaches like Brendan, Jeremy and Mark. I have to thank them a lot.”
But now, it’s on to a professional life.
Gallagher is a former minor league player with the LA Dodgers. He’s been around professional baseballers his whole life. Gallagher says Davies has a lot of the physical tools required to play professional baseball, it’s his approach to the game that sets him apart.
“Baseball is a game of failure and how you handle it is how you define yourself as an athlete. He doesn’t get too high on success or too low on failures. That’s the mentality it takes to play professional baseball,” he says.
Davies reports to camp with the Reds in March 2023. He joins Curtis Mead (Tampa Bay), Jack O’Loughlin (Oakland) and Riley Yeatman (San Diego) as the only four South Australians playing professional MLB-affiliated baseball.
He joins a growing list of nearly 30 Australians who play baseball full time.
06 December 2023
Australian Youth Championships
One of the most exciting weeks of the Australian Baseball calendar will return to Blacktown, NSW from January 10-16.
State pride and passion is on the line, as the best U16 and U18 baseball players from across Australia head to Sydney for the marquee event over seven days.
It’s a pathway all of Australia’s best players have competed in – from past MLB stars like Graeme Lloyd, to current Big Leaguers like Curtis Mead, to recent minor league signings like Declan Speirs – the country’s top talent will be here.
This is a seven-day tournament.
Each division (U16 & U18) features the following seven teams: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, NSW Country, ACT and Queensland.
On Days 1-4, the teams will compete in the group stage. They will play each opponent once. The Top 4 teams will advance to the championship group on Days 5 & 6, while the bottom three teams will play in a consolation group.
The records reset in the championship group. The Top 4 teams will each play each other once. The Top two teams will advance to Day 7’s Gold Medal Game and the bottom two will play in the consolation bracket.
Each team will play on the main diamond at least two teams. Click the links below to download the schedule for your tournament:
Visit our event hubs for up-to-date information.
Please stay tuned to Baseball.com.au website and social media handles for any changes in the schedule, likely due to weather.
Broadcast:
Every Diamond 1 game will be broadcast with multiple cameras and commentary. It will be available on Baseball+.
Baseball+ is now an app that can be downloaded on your smartphone. For links to download, please click here.
The Diamond 2 and 3 games will be scored live on GameChanger. We will post on this page when the link is available.
Scoring:
All games will be scored through GameChanger. It will be free for all to access.
U18 Link: CLICK HERE.
U16 Link: CLICK HERE.
The best bet is to download the GameChanger App, create an account and search your state’s age bracket and state abbreviation. Example: “U16 SA” or “U16 QLD” or “U18 WA” or “U18 NSWC”. Then click follow. The location of the event is Rooty Hill, NSW if you are using the search bar.
Note: For full functionality of GameChanger, you will need at least a “plus” account. You can register for a free trial with a new email address which last seven days – the length of the tournament.
Coverage:
We will post daily recaps, photos and stat updates on Baseball.com.au as the tournament progresses. Please follow Baseball.com.au on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Follow each state association for their roster updates of the event. Some states have already named their teams.
Western Australia – | U18 State Team | U16 State Team |
South Australia – | U18 State Team | U6 State Team |
Victoria – | U18 State Team | U16 State Team |
ACT: | Yet to be announced on website |
New South Wales: | U 18 State Team | U16 State Team |
NSW Country: | U 18 State Team | U16 State Team |
Queensland: | U18 State Team | U16 State Team |
06 December 2023
National junior championship baseball is returning to Lismore.
The New South Wales-town, a long-time previous host of Australia’s Little League Championships, will host two national charter events in one great week of baseball from 27-31 May, 2024.
Both the Junior League (U15) and Intermediate League (U14) titles will be contested with trips to the World Series in the USA on the line.
This announcement is a coup for our city and a testament to the calibre of expertise that has gone into rebuilding our high-quality sporting infrastructure,” says Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Kreig. “I look forward to welcoming the 17 teams from across Australia who will participate in the Australian Junior and Intermediate League Baseball Championships in Lismore next May.”
Last year, the Junior League title was won by the Wanneroo Giants at the tournament in South Australia. Brisbane North took home the glory at the 2023 Intermediate League championships in Mildura.
Winners of the 2024 Australian Junior League Championship will advance to the World Series in Taylor, Michigan from August 11-18. The winner of Intermediate League will head to Livermore, California from July 28 – August 4.
This is the first time Lismore has hosted a major event from two different age brackets at the same time.
For this event, there will be 17 total teams going to Lismore – nine junior league squads, and eight intermediate league.
Once you add up players, officials, staff and coaches, there will be over 320+ participants in Lismore.
Mayor Kreig says this is a boon for the local area.
“Lismore continues to earn its place as a regional sporting capital,” he says. “This announcement puts us on the map as a national development hub for junior sports. It not only benefits our local and regional junior athletes but will also provide significant economic uplift of around $1,134,876 for local businesses, for the duration of the competition.”
All games will take place at the newly upgraded Albert Park Baseball Facility
ABOUT CHARTER BASEBALL
Charter baseball is a pathways program that develops players and local clubs, rather than focussing on just the elite. It is a participation-based competition designed to extend player skills at a higher-level to club ball, and exposes athletes to national and international programs.
Teams from each state are divided into different charters (groups) at the little league (U13), Intermediate League (U14), Junior League (U15) and Senior League (U17) level.
The charters are based on club locations. Think of it like regionally based all-star teams.
Teams qualify for the national championship through their state championships. If you win the national title, you go to the world title in the USA.
Many elite baseball players have gone through this pathway.
04 December 2023
From a scenic coastal field on Lake Illawarra to playing baseball abroad, pitcher Lachlan Rosser is going to the United States.
Rosser has committed to Hutchinson Community College, a school in Kansas.
“I chose Hutch because it feels like the right fit,” says the tall pitcher, who featured for Australia at the recent U18 World Cup. “Coach Nehls and the whole staff are great people and the program looks really good from both a facilities standpoint, a baseball point of view, and the strength and conditioning program.”
Hutchinson is a junior college, also known as JUCO. Many Australians attend these two-year programs hoping to impress with their baseball skills before transferring to an NCAA program or turn professional.
Players like Geelong’s Liam Spence are a great example of this pathway. Spence attended a junior college, transferred to Tennessee, and was later drafted by the Chicago Cubs.
“I see my development at Hutchinson helping me get stronger, refining my pitches and also getting smarter on the mound,” says Rosser. “This will help me transition to a university after junior college.”
Rosser will head to school in August 2024. He will work with a coach who has spent time with other Australians.
“Coach Nehls was the pitching coach at Dodge City CC when other Australians such as National Player Development Manager Andrew Riddell, Scott Hillier, Brayden Schuler and Tim Wakefield were there, he says. “He has a good history and experience of coaching Australian players – some of whom went to the junior college world series.”
Rosser originally comes from the Dapto Chiefs, a club in Illawarra. He plays senior club ball at the MacArthur Orioles. He says he was influenced by all his coaches at both spots, as well as his parents.
He competed for NSW Country.
He burst on the scene after an impressive Australian Youth Championships in 2023. He dazzled again at national junior camp, earning a spot on Australia’s U18 World Cup Roster.
In September, he traveled to the USA for the MLB World Select Program in Arizona where he threw against some strong college outfits.
“[That trip helped] show me where I was at and where I stood against them,” says Rosser. “The trip to Arizona also got me seen by coaches which generated interest and started my discussions with schools.”
Rosser will continue to play in NSW this summer, before heading to school later in the year.
30 November 2023
via Ryan Taylor, NBC Sports Chicago
MLB announced White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks as its selection for the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
Hendriks received the same award from The Players Choices Awards, which is presented by MLB and voted on by players each year. This award, however, was decided by all 30 beat writers from MLB.com.
Hendriks, 34, was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December. He underwent four rounds of treatment between December and April, his last falling on the day the White Sox opened their home slate against the San Francisco Giants on April 3.
He went into remission in late April, ramping up his rehab stint in the minor leagues shortly after in May. He went from Arizona to pitching with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before making his major league return.
On May 29, Hendriks made his return to the mound. He gave up two runs in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels. He struggled in his first outing, but bounced back over the rest of his appearances. Hendriks allowed just one run over his next four appearances.
Unfortunately, Hendriks was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in August. The White Sox declined his club option to return him for the 2024 season, forcing him into free agency.
29 November 2023
New South Wales pitcher Luke Hayhow has become the latest in a string of Australian players to commit to an NCAA Division 1 school.
Hayhow will head to the University of Hawaii in August 2024, he announced earlier via Instagram.
“They were clear front runners early in the recruiting phase,” says Hayhow of the University of Hawaii. “I was blown away with the MLB style lockers, gym and performance centres and the amazing Les Murakami stadium.”
Hawaii are coming off a strong 29-20 season in the Big West conference and seem to be on an upward trajectory. Hayhow, a product of the Castle Hill Knights baseball club in NSW, says it’s an exciting program to be part of.
“What makes the University of Hawaii special is I get the chance to play for a state rather than a university,” he says. “It makes the experience even more special, seeing how they pack out stadiums with local kids and fans.”
Hayhow’s commitment is exciting – it’s another Australian playing a high level. Earlier this month, Ali Tanner committed to NCAA Division 1 school in Arizona State University.
Travis Bazzana, another New South Wales product, is playing at Oregon State University where he could go in the first round of next year’s MLB Draft.
Hayhow says he’s keen to get involved with the high performance elements his new home offers.
For now, it’s all about preparation.
“I’m planning on heading over to the USA in June to play summer ball on the West Coast, and additionally spend some time training at Driveline and re-testing in their motion capture lab,” he says.
Hayhow says his experience in Australia helped his development to lead to this step in his career.
Watch the ABL, Team Australia and Baseball Australia events on Baseball+.
“I started playing juniors at Castle Hill Knights, under the guidance of Australian Baseball great Scott Tunkin,” he says. “He has nurtured and tutored me to become the baseball player and man I am today – instilling strong values and ideologies about the game.”
Hayhow was also part of national junior squads.
“The intense training [there] and coaching helped me become a more polished pitcher. Additionally, the Australian Youth Championships [helped],” he says. “This event allowed me to compete on the national stage and face the best talent we have to offer, which ultimately helped put into perspective my ambitions to play overseas.”
Congratulations to Luke! We will be following your journey closely.
29 November 2023
Geelong will return as a national championship host in 2024 when the Senior League (U17) National Championships come to town.
East Belmont Saints Winter Baseball Club at Geelong Baseball Centre will host the best senior league charter programs from around Australia from May 13-17 with a trip to the USA on the line.
NSW’s Ryde Hawks are the defending champions. This year’s winner books a trip to Easley, South Carolina for the Senior League World Series in July 2024.
“We pride ourselves on providing for the baseball community and at every opportunity we will avail ourselves to host State level, National level and when given the chance ABL and International level events,” says Stuart McGovern, president of the East Belmont Saints.
“We believe Geelong is a great destination for such events. Whenever nationals are being held in Geelong, we know we are watching the best talent in the land showcasing themselves vs the best.
Watch the ABL, Team Australia and Baseball Australia events live & free on Baseball+.
This isn’t Geelong’s first time hosting major events. They hosted the 2020 Senior League Championships, coming to the rescue after COVID-19 forced relocation.
They’ve also hosted the Australian Women’s National Championships and the Women’s National Showcase in previous years.
Some games will be streamed on Baseball+.
The Senior League Championships is one of many Baseball Australia events coming up in 2024. The Australian Youth Championships (U18 & U16) will head to Blacktown January 10-16.
The Women’s and Youth Women’s titles will take place at Altona in April.
Little League, Junior League and Intermediate League venues and dates will be announced soon.
Visit our events page for up-to-date information.
ABOUT CHARTER BASEBALL
Charter baseball is a pathways program that develops players and local clubs, rather than focusing on just the elite. It is a participation-based competition designed to extend player skills at a higher-level to club ball, and exposes athletes to national and international programs.
Teams from each state are divided into different charters (groups) at the little league (U13), Intermediate League (U14), Junior League (U15) and Senior League (U17) level.
21 November 2023
For the first time in over four years, Team Australia will play a significant baseball game at home.
The Australian senior men’s national team will take on top level Korean club Hanwha Eagles in a two-game series from February 17-18, 2024 at Melbourne Ballpark.
Ticket Information
Saturday 17th Feb 2024
Game 1 tickets
Sunday 18th Feb 2024
Game 2 Tickets
The event is dubbed ‘The International Baseball Showdown’ and is proudly supported by the Victorian Government and hosted by the Melbourne Aces. It gives Australian baseball fans a rare opportunity to see their team play on home soil, and players a chance to wear the Green & Gold in front of family.
The senior men’s national team last played in Australia vs the Doosan Bears in Geelong, but only one game occurred after rain washed out the rest of the scheduled series.
The national team also played in Sydney in 2016 for the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, and at the SCG for the MLB Opening Day series in 2014. Outside of the ABL All-Star Game, which only included Australians who played in the league and ended in 2017, opportunities to play at home are few and far between.
Justin Huber says the chance to wear the jersey in front of family & friends is special.
“As an Australian professional and national team player, you’re usually resigned to the fact that your career is going to be played overseas,” he says. “To represent your country at home, in front of home fans, at an international level is the stuff of childhood dreams.”
Australian players returned home from the Asia Professional Baseball Championships in Tokyo this week, where they won the hearts of the Japanese public.
In February, their opponent will come from the Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) – widely considered the third best competition in the world. The KBO is played in front of tens of thousands of fans and broadcast to huge domestic audiences. In Korea, baseball is king.
The Eagles are home to current KBO home run champion Roh Sihwan, who bashed 31 homers and 101 RBI this season.
The Eagles will be in Melbourne throughout February for ‘Spring Training’ – a month-lng camp to prepare for the 2024 KBO season. The Aces and Melbourne Ballpark, with support from the Victorian state government, are hosting the pre-season activity.
Korea – and the Eagles – links to Australia are strong. Team Australia co-captain and former MLB pitcher Warwick Saupold played for Hanwha Eagles for two seasons in 2019-2020.
Three other KBO clubs are sending players to compete in the upcoming Australian Baseball League.
The Hanwha Corporation is South Korea’s largest defense company with a strong relationship with the Australian and Victorian governments. Hanwha Defense Australia has headquarters in Melbourne CBD and the Greater Geelong area. While operated separately, Hanwha owns the baseball team too.
For more information and to view the Melbourne Aces’ official release, please click here.
Ticket Information
Saturday 19th Feb 2024
Game 1 tickets
Sunday 18th Feb 2024
Game 2 Tickets
Baseball.com.au is a division of The Australian Baseball Federation. The Australian Baseball Federation is the peak representative body for baseball in Australia. The Australian Baseball Federation has national and international regulatory and coordination responsibilities. In performing those functions, the Australian Baseball Federation uses the descriptor: "Baseball Australia". (0.0.0)
