Article by Trish Quayle
Update 15 October 14: The amount of pros on the team increased to eighteen (18) with the news of LHP Travis McDonald signing with the Cincinnati Reds.
24 October 14: Jacob Younis replaced Sam Kennelly in the roster due to injury.
30 October 14: Aaron Thompson replaced Travis McDonald in the roster due to injury.
Baseball Australia are pleased to announce the roster for the 21U national men’s team that will represent Australia at the first ever 21U Baseball World Cup. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) event will take place from 7 to 16 November in Taiwan, Taichung, with eleven (11) nations competing.
Australia’s twenty four (24) man roster features eighteen (18) players who are currently under professional contract with Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs, including 2012 Youth Player of the Year Zac Shepherd (Detroit Tigers), and the youngest of the talented WA Kennelly family Sam (Pittsburg Pirates).
Although named a 21U event, the rules allow teams to carry six (6) players aged twenty-three (23) and under on the rosters, but can only have a maximum of three (3) in the line-up at the same time.
Australia has taken advantage of this rule by bringing in five (5) older pitchers; Aaron Sookee, Wilson Lee, Travis McDonald, Sam Street, Todd Van Steensel, and outfielder Ben Lodge, to stabilise the young club.
Manager Tony Harris said this is an exciting ball club that has come together for this new event:
“These ball players are young but we have a depth of pro ball guys that will help to build our game around pitching and defense. Our best players have made themselves available and as a team we have the opportunity to position ourselves well and be competitive at this event” said Manager Harris.
The stakes are somewhat higher for Australia, currently ranked fifteen (15) in the World, as this is the final competition to determine the twelve (12) qualifying teams for the "Premier 12" flagship pro-player international event to be launched in 2015. Only seventy-two (72) points separate No. 11 Italy from No. 15 Australia, and with 100 points awarded to the 21U champion, teams will be looking for top performances to secure their “Premier 12” position.
The team will go into camp in Sydney on Saturday 1 November before flying out for Taichung on 5 November. Australia opens up their round-robin play against World ranked number two (2) Japan on Friday 7 November at 12:30pm (local time), 2:30pm AEST.
For updates on the team at the World Cup visit baseball.com.au or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.