After seven years and over 650 innings in the Detroit Tigers organisation, Warwick Saupold is getting a major change of scenery in 2019.
Some 10,700km away from Detroit’s Comerica Park is Daejeon Hanbat Baseball Stadium, where Saupold will suit up for the Hanwha Eagles, one of 10 teams competing in Korea’s premier baseball league, the KBO.
2019 is shaping as a crucial year for Saupold, who says his deal with Hanwha was somewhat unexpected.
“The deal came out of nowhere,” Saupold said.
“My agent called me one afternoon and told me there was some interest from Asia and in the blink of an eye there was a contract in front of me.
“I’m looking forward to a new chapter and helping Hanwha win a championship.”
As well as donning the orange, black and grey of Hanwha, Saupold is looking toward putting on the green and gold of Team Australia in the very near future.
Despite being unavailable for Team Australia’s four day camp in Canberra, Saupold continues to be an unabashed advocate of competing for the national team.
“There’s a different kind of feeling playing for your country,” he says.
“I will do everything in my power to represent Australia at the Premier12, and play a role in qualifying for Tokyo2020.”
Saupold’s last stint in Australian colours was at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, where he tossed four spectacular innings in a heartbreaking one run loss against Cuba.
Since then, a number of Saupold’s teammates have retired from national team duties, including former MLBers Trent Oeltjen, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Brad Harman.
Despite losing a combined 226 games of MLB experience with those three absences alone, Saupold believes Team Australia are building towards greatness.
“There is a lot of talent in the country right now,” Saupold says.
“It has been exciting to see the next generation develop over the last few years, and I think we will be in a position to challenge and get some good results at the Premier12.”