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01 October 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Australian Youth Championships returns to three Melbourne clubs in 2027, extends through 2029

Australia’s premier youth baseball tournament will return to Melbourne in January 2027, with Essendon, Preston and Port Melbourne Baseball Clubs confirmed as hosts through to 2029.

The 2027 Under 16 and Under 18 Australian Youth Championships will be played across nine days, from January 6-14, thanks to the support of the Victorian Government, Visit Melbourne and the local baseball community.

“The host clubs did a great job last year and we’re excited to announce they will continue to be our host partners through to 2029,” says Baseball Australia’s National Tournament Manager Michael Ibbotson. “The passion and professionalism of all three host clubs for the 2026 AYC event was undeniable, and a significant contributor to the success of what is a challenging event to deliver.”

It marks the second straight year the tournament will be held at the three Victorian clubs.

The Under 16 event will run from January 6-12, while the Under 18 event will run from January 8-14.

Essendon will be the primary venue, hosting games on all nine days of the event, including the medal round games. Preston Baseball Club will host seven days of competition, while Port Melbourne will host four.

The venues will welcome seven different state teams, with 14 teams total across the two divisions: New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales Country and the A.C.T. Roos.

New South Wales is the defending Under 16 champion after winning the Keith Cant Trophy in 2026. Victoria claimed the Jim Brown Shield as the 2026 Under 18 champion.

Ibbotson says Baseball Australia has worked with each of the venues to improve the experience for 2027.

“Each of the host clubs are already in the process of refining efficiencies and raising the bar on their offerings, in an effort to provide the best event experience possible for participants and their supporters. One of many reasons why extending the hosting agreements made absolute sense,” he says.

The event is proudly supported by the Victoria State Government and Get Active Victoria. The Victorian Government’s support through the Significant Sporting Events Program highlights its ongoing commitment to hosting elite youth sporting events that bring communities together, support grassroots development, and drive local economic benefit.

In 2026, scouts from 17 different Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs were on site to scout players. Baseball Australia will also use Synergy Sports to create scouting profiles, video and analytics to assist with college recruitment.

Ashton Kennedy (NSW) and Patrick Crotty (QLD) signed professional contracts following the 2026 tournament, while numerous others committed to major college programs in the USA.

Fans will be able to watch 36 of the tournament games live, free and on demand via Baseball Australia’s streaming platform, Baseball+. The remaining games will feature a single-camera feed on GameChanger.

The community can follow coverage across Baseball.com.au’s social media channels and website.

The schedule will be announced in October, while some states have already announced their rosters for the 2027 tournament.

IN SUMMARY

– Australia’s premier youth baseball tournament, the Australian Youth Championships (AYC), will return to Melbourne in 2027, with Essendon, Preston and Port Melbourne confirmed as hosts through 2029;

– Games will be played across Essendon, Preston and Port Melbourne Baseball Clubs;

– Scouts from MLB teams, major USA colleges and the Under 18 National Team will be present;

– The Under 16 Division runs from January 6-12. The Under 18 Division runs from January 8-14;

– 36 games will be broadcast free on Baseball+. The remainder will feature a single-camera live stream on GameChanger;

– The event is proudly supported by the Victorian Government and Get Active Victoria;

– The schedule will be announced in October;

29 September 2026 By Staff Writers

By Staff Writers

Community

Late Innings Get Away from Australia against Nicaragua

Australia fought back into the game but couldn’t hold on, going down 17-5 to Nicaragua in Cancún.

Nicaragua started fast with five runs in the first inning. Australia answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but by the end of the fourth the team trailed 8-1.

Jet Tyler Creamer steadied things on the mound after coming on in relief in the first. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowed only one earned run and struck out two. Harrison Thomas-McLean followed with 1.2 innings, and the defence helped out by turning two double plays.

The bats came to life in the fifth. Australia put four runs on the board to cut the gap to 8-5 and put real pressure on Nicaragua. Beau Stockdale and Zavier Leigh each hit a double and drove in a run, Cruize Chase-Tukapua drove in two runs and drew two walks, and Bodhi Evans added an RBI. Jacob Tayler also played well at the top of the order, reaching base three times with two hits and a walk.

Nicaragua pulled away late, scoring five runs in the sixth and four in the seventh. Four errors and 13 walks from Australian pitchers gave the opposition too many extra chances, a lesson the team will want to take into the rest of the tournament.

Australia (1-3) will look to finish the group stage strongly when it faces Chinese Taipei next.

25 September 2026 By Eric Balnar

By Eric Balnar

Community

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.

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.

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