(courtesy of TheABL.com.au)
SYDNEY, 15 October -- Baseball is back for the summer with the sixth season of the Australian Baseball League, which begins 23 October with all six teams in action on Opening Night.
The league features an extended 56-game schedule this year, which further showcases the global talent on display in the ABL. Each club features local Australian talent and top players from Major League Baseball clubs including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins.
Every game of the 2015/16 season will be available live and free on ABLtv.com, with the ABL All-Star Game Presented by Boral and Championship Series expected to be broadcast worldwide on ESPN Australia/New Zealand, MLB Network and Fox Sports Asia.
This year's competition brings an extra international edge when Team Australia competes on home soil for a place in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the world's premier baseball tournament. The four-day qualifying round takes place at Blacktown International Sportspark 11-14 February, and will also feature the national teams from New Zealand, South Africa and the Philippines.
Adelaide Bite, proudly presented by SA Power Networks
2014/15 record: 32-16 (first place)
Manager: Steve Mintz (first season)
The Bite won the club's first minor premiership last season and reached the championship series for the first time since the league's second season, led by experienced manager Brooke Knight. This year new manager Steve Mintz, who played for the Adelaide Giants of the old ABL takes over and will try to carry over the team's 2014/15 success.
Mintz will manage a team with an even mix of returning Aussie mainstays and a new crop of MLB prospects from the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, highlighted by Travis Demeritte, who is ranked as the Rangers' No. 14 overall prospect.
Last year's Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year Josh Tols leads Adelaide's returning players, along with former Rookie of the Year Ben Lodge, who will take the field for the Bite after completing his first professional season abroad. Anchoring the Bite lineup is Olympic silver medallist and veteran slugger Tom Brice, who will suit up for his fifth season in Adelaide.
Adelaide hit the road in Round 1 for a championship series rematch against the Heat in Perth on 23 October at 10:05pm AEDT.
Brisbane Bandits, proudly presented by WellDog
2014/15 record: 21-25 (fifth place)
Manager: David Nilsson (third season)
Former Major Leaguer and MLB All-Star David Nilsson returns for his third season and looks to lead his hometown team to the club's first playoff appearance in the new ABL. Brisbane started strong last season before struggling mid-season and narrowly missing the playoffs.
The Bandits' strong relationship with MLB's Tampa Bay Rays continues this season. In addition to returning catcher Maxx Tissenbaum, Nick Ciuffo, Justin Williams, Bralin Jackson and Riley Unroe will take the field for the Bandits. Ciuffo and Williams rank 20 and 22 respectively on the Rays' Top 30 Prospects list, demonstrating the high calibre of talent that Bandits fans can look forward to on the field this year.
Several of Brisbane's homegrown stars, including Andy Campbell and Ryan Battaglia, led Queensland to the U25 National Championship at the beginning of September, setting themselves in the right mindset for a strong ABL campaign.
Brisbane open the season on the road in Canberra on 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT.
2014/15 record: 22-24 (third place)
Manager: Michael Collins (fourth season)
After just missing the playoffs last season, Canberra called in the Cavalry and have assembled a strong squad that includes a current Major Leaguer and several heroes from the club's 2013 Asia Series triumph.
Texas-raised Aaron Thompson, who made his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 and pitched in 41 games this year for the Minnesota Twins, will join Canberra at the end of November and remain with the team through the end of the season. The Cavalry also receive a boost from prospects from the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies organisations.
While also working for Baseball Canberra, veteran Jeremy Barnes is coming out of retirement to suit up again in 2015/16. The right-handed infielder played in the ABL from 2012-14, and had a big role in Canberra's 2013 Asia Series win. Jack Murphy is also back for his fourth season Down Under, on the heels of his strongest ABL season to date last year. Now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation, Murphy will continue to serve as a mentor for young Cavalry catcher Robbie Perkins, a prospect in the Colorado Rockies organisation.
Canberra start the 2015/16 season at home against Brisbane on 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT.
2014/15 record: 15-31 (fifth place)
Manager: Joe Vavra (first season)
Under the dual guidance of a new general manager and an MLB manager, the Aces look to make history and move forward after a last-place finish in 2014/15.
Manager Joe Vavra will be the first active MLB coach to manage in the new ABL. Vavra currently serves as the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins, and previously managed the Adelaide Giants of the old ABL in the 1992/93 season. Vavra's two sons, both prospects in the Minnesota Twins organisation, will join their father on the Aces. Despite being blind in one eye, Tanner played his third season of professional baseball in 2015 for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, while Trey played for Low-A Cedar Rapids.
Along with the new faces on the field, including prospects from the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, Melbourne will see a familiar face in the front office. Aces legend Justin Huber retired from playing and moved into the front office as General Manager, and along with Vavra and the club's talented players looks bring the Claxton Shield back to Victoria.
The Aces open the 2015/16 season at home, hosting Sydney on 23 October at 7:35pm AEDT.
Alcohol. Think Again Perth Heat
2014/15 record: 28-20 (second place)
Manager: Kevin Boles (first season in Perth, second overall in ABL)
In 2014/15, reigning Claxton Shield champion Perth won the ABL title for the fourth time in five seasons, and look to continue their domination thanks to the return of the team's talented Aussie core and the addition of an experienced manager.
Boston Red Sox Triple-A skipper Kevin Boles returns to the ABL to manage the Heat, after leading the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to the team's first championship in club history in 2014, developing many of the Major League Red Sox young stars in the process.
He'll manage a Heat club laden with experienced veterans like former Major Leaguer Luke Hughes, Helms Award winner Tim Kennelly and ABL all-time wins leader Daniel Schmidt. Perth's MLB prospects this year come from the Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies, and include Rockies' No. 24 prospect Correlle Prime.
The Heat open the new campaign at home against Adelaide on 23 October at 10:05pm AEDT, in a rematch of last year's championship series.
CompassMarkets.com Sydney Blue Sox
2014/15 record: 22-24 (third place)
Manager: Jason Pospishil (fourth season)
One of two ABL teams to reach the postseason every year, the Blue Sox want this to be the year they make it past the preliminary final and advance to the championship series.
Jason Pospishil is back for this fourth season as the team's manager, backed by an experienced coaching staff. Sydney's pitchers will receive expert advice from new pitching coach Jim Colborn, a former Major Leaguer who tossed a no-hitter in 1977 for the Kansas City Royals.
After 2014's MLB Opening Series at the SCG, the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their relationship with Sydney, sending a pair of prospects this year. Players from the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies round out the Blue Sox MLB mix, while the team will also host Korea Baseball Organisation veteran Gyoung Wan Lim and German prospect Jan Stoecklin. In addition to Sydney's international players, returning team mainstays include David Kandilas, Aaron Sookee, Luke Wilkins, Jacob Younis, Josh Dean and Trent D'Antonio.
The Blue Sox open the 2015/16 season on the road in Melbourne, but return home the following week on 30 October at 7:30pm AEDT.
Complete rosters will be available early next week. The 2015/16 ABL season kicks off Friday, 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT. For the complete schedule visit theabl.com.au/schedule.
The league features an extended 56-game schedule this year, which further showcases the global talent on display in the ABL. Each club features local Australian talent and top players from Major League Baseball clubs including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins.
Every game of the 2015/16 season will be available live and free on ABLtv.com, with the ABL All-Star Game Presented by Boral and Championship Series expected to be broadcast worldwide on ESPN Australia/New Zealand, MLB Network and Fox Sports Asia.
This year's competition brings an extra international edge when Team Australia competes on home soil for a place in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the world's premier baseball tournament. The four-day qualifying round takes place at Blacktown International Sportspark 11-14 February, and will also feature the national teams from New Zealand, South Africa and the Philippines.
Adelaide Bite, proudly presented by SA Power Networks
2014/15 record: 32-16 (first place)
Manager: Steve Mintz (first season)
The Bite won the club's first minor premiership last season and reached the championship series for the first time since the league's second season, led by experienced manager Brooke Knight. This year new manager Steve Mintz, who played for the Adelaide Giants of the old ABL takes over and will try to carry over the team's 2014/15 success.
Mintz will manage a team with an even mix of returning Aussie mainstays and a new crop of MLB prospects from the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, highlighted by Travis Demeritte, who is ranked as the Rangers' No. 14 overall prospect.
Last year's Rookie of the Year and Reliever of the Year Josh Tols leads Adelaide's returning players, along with former Rookie of the Year Ben Lodge, who will take the field for the Bite after completing his first professional season abroad. Anchoring the Bite lineup is Olympic silver medallist and veteran slugger Tom Brice, who will suit up for his fifth season in Adelaide.
Adelaide hit the road in Round 1 for a championship series rematch against the Heat in Perth on 23 October at 10:05pm AEDT.
Brisbane Bandits, proudly presented by WellDog
2014/15 record: 21-25 (fifth place)
Manager: David Nilsson (third season)
Former Major Leaguer and MLB All-Star David Nilsson returns for his third season and looks to lead his hometown team to the club's first playoff appearance in the new ABL. Brisbane started strong last season before struggling mid-season and narrowly missing the playoffs.
The Bandits' strong relationship with MLB's Tampa Bay Rays continues this season. In addition to returning catcher Maxx Tissenbaum, Nick Ciuffo, Justin Williams, Bralin Jackson and Riley Unroe will take the field for the Bandits. Ciuffo and Williams rank 20 and 22 respectively on the Rays' Top 30 Prospects list, demonstrating the high calibre of talent that Bandits fans can look forward to on the field this year.
Several of Brisbane's homegrown stars, including Andy Campbell and Ryan Battaglia, led Queensland to the U25 National Championship at the beginning of September, setting themselves in the right mindset for a strong ABL campaign.
Brisbane open the season on the road in Canberra on 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT.
2014/15 record: 22-24 (third place)
Manager: Michael Collins (fourth season)
After just missing the playoffs last season, Canberra called in the Cavalry and have assembled a strong squad that includes a current Major Leaguer and several heroes from the club's 2013 Asia Series triumph.
Texas-raised Aaron Thompson, who made his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 and pitched in 41 games this year for the Minnesota Twins, will join Canberra at the end of November and remain with the team through the end of the season. The Cavalry also receive a boost from prospects from the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies organisations.
While also working for Baseball Canberra, veteran Jeremy Barnes is coming out of retirement to suit up again in 2015/16. The right-handed infielder played in the ABL from 2012-14, and had a big role in Canberra's 2013 Asia Series win. Jack Murphy is also back for his fourth season Down Under, on the heels of his strongest ABL season to date last year. Now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation, Murphy will continue to serve as a mentor for young Cavalry catcher Robbie Perkins, a prospect in the Colorado Rockies organisation.
Canberra start the 2015/16 season at home against Brisbane on 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT.
2014/15 record: 15-31 (fifth place)
Manager: Joe Vavra (first season)
Under the dual guidance of a new general manager and an MLB manager, the Aces look to make history and move forward after a last-place finish in 2014/15.
Manager Joe Vavra will be the first active MLB coach to manage in the new ABL. Vavra currently serves as the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins, and previously managed the Adelaide Giants of the old ABL in the 1992/93 season. Vavra's two sons, both prospects in the Minnesota Twins organisation, will join their father on the Aces. Despite being blind in one eye, Tanner played his third season of professional baseball in 2015 for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, while Trey played for Low-A Cedar Rapids.
Along with the new faces on the field, including prospects from the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, Melbourne will see a familiar face in the front office. Aces legend Justin Huber retired from playing and moved into the front office as General Manager, and along with Vavra and the club's talented players looks bring the Claxton Shield back to Victoria.
The Aces open the 2015/16 season at home, hosting Sydney on 23 October at 7:35pm AEDT.
Alcohol. Think Again Perth Heat
2014/15 record: 28-20 (second place)
Manager: Kevin Boles (first season in Perth, second overall in ABL)
In 2014/15, reigning Claxton Shield champion Perth won the ABL title for the fourth time in five seasons, and look to continue their domination thanks to the return of the team's talented Aussie core and the addition of an experienced manager.
Boston Red Sox Triple-A skipper Kevin Boles returns to the ABL to manage the Heat, after leading the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to the team's first championship in club history in 2014, developing many of the Major League Red Sox young stars in the process.
He'll manage a Heat club laden with experienced veterans like former Major Leaguer Luke Hughes, Helms Award winner Tim Kennelly and ABL all-time wins leader Daniel Schmidt. Perth's MLB prospects this year come from the Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies, and include Rockies' No. 24 prospect Correlle Prime.
The Heat open the new campaign at home against Adelaide on 23 October at 10:05pm AEDT, in a rematch of last year's championship series.
CompassMarkets.com Sydney Blue Sox
2014/15 record: 22-24 (third place)
Manager: Jason Pospishil (fourth season)
One of two ABL teams to reach the postseason every year, the Blue Sox want this to be the year they make it past the preliminary final and advance to the championship series.
Jason Pospishil is back for this fourth season as the team's manager, backed by an experienced coaching staff. Sydney's pitchers will receive expert advice from new pitching coach Jim Colborn, a former Major Leaguer who tossed a no-hitter in 1977 for the Kansas City Royals.
After 2014's MLB Opening Series at the SCG, the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their relationship with Sydney, sending a pair of prospects this year. Players from the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies round out the Blue Sox MLB mix, while the team will also host Korea Baseball Organisation veteran Gyoung Wan Lim and German prospect Jan Stoecklin. In addition to Sydney's international players, returning team mainstays include David Kandilas, Aaron Sookee, Luke Wilkins, Jacob Younis, Josh Dean and Trent D'Antonio.
The Blue Sox open the 2015/16 season on the road in Melbourne, but return home the following week on 30 October at 7:30pm AEDT.
Complete rosters will be available early next week. The 2015/16 ABL season kicks off Friday, 23 October at 7:00pm AEDT. For the complete schedule visit theabl.com.au/schedule.