AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Balfour remains in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls as he continues his quest back to the Majors. He continues to excel in relief with Durham, posting a 2.25 ERA in seven games, and striking out 11 batters in eight innings pitched. Balfour’s complete stats with the Bulls can be found here.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Aside from a recent rough outing on 16 May against the Houston Astros, Hendriks maintains solid numbers across the board, with a 3.26 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched. He’s also held opposing batters to a .179 batting average, and has walked just four batters all season. The Blue Jays (18-24, .429) fell to last place in the AL East, and have lost eight of their last ten games.
15 May – Liam tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning as the Blue Jays fell to the Astros 8-4.
16 May – The Astros handed Liam his first blown save of the season, scoring two runs off of him on two hits. Still, Liam struck out three batters in his two innings of work.
19 May – Though the Blue Jays lost a close 3-2 game to the Angels, the team’s bullpen put up a perfect showing, with Liam and Roberto Osuna tossing 1.2 combined shutout innings in relief of starter Aaron Sanchez.
20 May – Liam pitched in another strong inning for Toronto, surrendering one hit and striking out one in the top of the ninth inning.
*Statistics for players are being compiled. Pitchers can be found here and batters here.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): Though the New York Yankees have lost three games in a row, Gregorius picked up some speed at the plate recently, tallying a pair of hits on 20 May against the Washington Nationals. The Yankees have lost seven of their last ten games and sit tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Watch: Gregorius explains the origins of his nickname
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier is hitting .240 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a multi-hit game against the Minnesota Twins on 17 May, scoring two runs and driving in one. The Rays (22-19, .537) moved into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the AL East. Watch: Kiermaier talks about the Rays’ 11-3 win on 17 May
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): Maurer continues to show the San Diego Padres they made the right choice in moving him from starter to reliever. The 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 games, and still hasn’t allowed a run in the month of May. The Padres (20-21, .488) dropped to third place in the NL West, five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tyler Collins (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): The Detroit Tigers recalled Collins from Triple-A Toledo on 19 May to take the place of the injured Victor Martinez. He started at DH that day against the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. Collins was back in the lineup in the same spot the next night, producing a similar 1-for-3 result and adding a run scored. The Tigers (24-17, .585) are in second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games out of first.
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): Barnes returned to MLB in 20 May, when the Colorado Rockies called him up from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as an auxiliary bat off the bench. He pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, lining out to centre field in his first 2015 MLB at bat. The Rockies (14-23, .378) have lost three of their last ten games and sit in the cellar of the NL West, nine games out of first place.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON (All times AEST)
|
Sat 23 May |
8:30 am |
MLB’s Best |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
5:00 pm |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Sat 23 May |
9:00 pm |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Sun 24 May |
1:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sun 24 May |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sun 24 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25 May |
9:00 am |
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25 May |
10:00 am |
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25May |
6:00 pm |
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Tue 26 May |
6:00 am |
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics |
|
|
Tue 26 May |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Tue 26 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
12:00 pm |
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
3:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Wed 27 May |
6:00 pm |
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
9:00 pm |
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Thu 28 May |
9:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Thu 28 May |
11:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Thu 28 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Victorian and former Melbourne Ace James Beresford recently concluded a 13-game hitting streak for the Rochester Red Wings. He’s hitting .319 in 25 games this season…
• DOUBLE A: Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat) tossed five shutout innings in his most recent start against Reading, surrendering just four hits, but had to settle for a no-decision… After starting the season in Triple-A, Matt Kennelly (Perth Heat) was demoted to Double-A… Tim Atherton (Canberra Cavalry) earned his second Double-A loss of the season, lasting just 2.2 innings against the Frisco RoughRiders on 19 May.
• HIGH A: Samuel Holland (Brisbane Bandits) still hasn’t allowed a run in May for the Lake Elsinore Storm... Todd Van Steensel (Sydney Blue Sox) has 36 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle… Daniel McGrath (Melbourne Aces) was placed on the 7-day disabled list on 17 May.
• LOW A: Zac Shepherd (Sydney Blue Sox) went 4-for-5 on 19 May for the West Michigan Whitecaps, raising his season batting average to .278… Victorian Sam Street picked up his second win of the season in relief for the West Virginia Power, tossing three innings on 16 May… Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry) is hitting .205 in 44 at bats for the Asheville Tourists.
• EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: After signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins, Travis Blackley (Melbourne Aces) remains in Extended Spring Training, awaiting a minor league assignment… Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is approaching, in June.
COLLEGIATE NEWS: CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUE
• NSW natives Andrew Riddell and Tim Wakefield helped Dodge City Coummunity College (Kansas) win the program’s first National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI championship, with a dominant 7-1 win over Cowley County Community College. Read more about the Conqs’ win here, and check out a piece on Wakefield and Riddell here.
• Sydneysider and infielder Max Brennen and West Texas A&M University saw their season come to a close with a loss to St. Mary’s University in the NCAA South Central Regional in Colorado. Brennen went 2-for-3 in the loss, and finished the season hitting .307 with five doubles and 16 RBIs in 42 games. Read the full game story here.
GRASSROOTS NEWS
• Baseball Australia announced the teams competing in the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships, held in Lismore NSW 4-9 June. Find out which teams qualified here. The winner of the championship will represent Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania at the end of August.
AT A GLANCE
• Even though the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen has been overworked lately, Liam Hendriks has settled into his new role well. Read about it at the National Post.
• After struggling earlier in the season, NSW’s Zac Shepherd is enjoying a strong May in the Detroit Tigers system. Read more about Shepherd here.
NSW native and former Boston Red Sox farmhand Mitch Dening is reportedly close to signing a contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows. More information can be found here.
To subscribe to receive The Pitch direct to your inbox, click here.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Balfour remains in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls as he continues his quest back to the Majors. He continues to excel in relief with Durham, posting a 2.25 ERA in seven games, and striking out 11 batters in eight innings pitched. Balfour’s complete stats with the Bulls can be found here.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Aside from a recent rough outing on 16 May against the Houston Astros, Hendriks maintains solid numbers across the board, with a 3.26 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched. He’s also held opposing batters to a .179 batting average, and has walked just four batters all season. The Blue Jays (18-24, .429) fell to last place in the AL East, and have lost eight of their last ten games.
15 May – Liam tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning as the Blue Jays fell to the Astros 8-4.
16 May – The Astros handed Liam his first blown save of the season, scoring two runs off of him on two hits. Still, Liam struck out three batters in his two innings of work.
19 May – Though the Blue Jays lost a close 3-2 game to the Angels, the team’s bullpen put up a perfect showing, with Liam and Roberto Osuna tossing 1.2 combined shutout innings in relief of starter Aaron Sanchez.
20 May – Liam pitched in another strong inning for Toronto, surrendering one hit and striking out one in the top of the ninth inning.
*Statistics for players are being compiled. Pitchers can be found here and batters here.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): Though the New York Yankees have lost three games in a row, Gregorius picked up some speed at the plate recently, tallying a pair of hits on 20 May against the Washington Nationals. The Yankees have lost seven of their last ten games and sit tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Watch: Gregorius explains the origins of his nickname
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier is hitting .240 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a multi-hit game against the Minnesota Twins on 17 May, scoring two runs and driving in one. The Rays (22-19, .537) moved into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the AL East. Watch: Kiermaier talks about the Rays’ 11-3 win on 17 May
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): Maurer continues to show the San Diego Padres they made the right choice in moving him from starter to reliever. The 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 games, and still hasn’t allowed a run in the month of May. The Padres (20-21, .488) dropped to third place in the NL West, five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tyler Collins (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): The Detroit Tigers recalled Collins from Triple-A Toledo on 19 May to take the place of the injured Victor Martinez. He started at DH that day against the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. Collins was back in the lineup in the same spot the next night, producing a similar 1-for-3 result and adding a run scored. The Tigers (24-17, .585) are in second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games out of first.
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): Barnes returned to MLB in 20 May, when the Colorado Rockies called him up from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as an auxiliary bat off the bench. He pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, lining out to centre field in his first 2015 MLB at bat. The Rockies (14-23, .378) have lost three of their last ten games and sit in the cellar of the NL West, nine games out of first place.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON (All times AEST)
Sat 23 May
8:30 am
MLB’s Best
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
9:00 am
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
5:00 pm
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Sat 23 May
9:00 pm
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN
Sun 24 May
1:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sun 24 May
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sun 24 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Mon 25 May
9:00 am
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown
ESPN 2
Mon 25 May
10:00 am
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Mon 25May
6:00 pm
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Tue 26 May
6:00 am
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics
Tue 26 May
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Tue 26 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
9:00 am
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
12:00 pm
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
3:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Wed 27 May
6:00 pm
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
9:00 pm
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
ESPN
Thu 28 May
9:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Thu 28 May
11:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Thu 28 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Victorian and former Melbourne Ace James Beresford recently concluded a 13-game hitting streak for the Rochester Red Wings. He’s hitting .319 in 25 games this season…
• DOUBLE A: Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat) tossed five shutout innings in his most recent start against Reading, surrendering just four hits, but had to settle for a no-decision… After starting the season in Triple-A, Matt Kennelly (Perth Heat) was demoted to Double-A… Tim Atherton (Canberra Cavalry) earned his second Double-A loss of the season, lasting just 2.2 innings against the Frisco RoughRiders on 19 May.
• HIGH A: Samuel Holland (Brisbane Bandits) still hasn’t allowed a run in May for the Lake Elsinore Storm... Todd Van Steensel (Sydney Blue Sox) has 36 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle… Daniel McGrath (Melbourne Aces) was placed on the 7-day disabled list on 17 May.
• LOW A: Zac Shepherd (Sydney Blue Sox) went 4-for-5 on 19 May for the West Michigan Whitecaps, raising his season batting average to .278… Victorian Sam Street picked up his second win of the season in relief for the West Virginia Power, tossing three innings on 16 May… Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry) is hitting .205 in 44 at bats for the Asheville Tourists.
• EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: After signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins, Travis Blackley (Melbourne Aces) remains in Extended Spring Training, awaiting a minor league assignment… Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is approaching, in June.
COLLEGIATE NEWS: CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUE
• NSW natives Andrew Riddell and Tim Wakefield helped Dodge City Coummunity College (Kansas) win the program’s first National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI championship, with a dominant 7-1 win over Cowley County Community College. Read more about the Conqs’ win here, and check out a piece on Wakefield and Riddell here.
• Sydneysider and infielder Max Brennen and West Texas A&M University saw their season come to a close with a loss to St. Mary’s University in the NCAA South Central Regional in Colorado. Brennen went 2-for-3 in the loss, and finished the season hitting .307 with five doubles and 16 RBIs in 42 games. Read the full game story here.
GRASSROOTS NEWS
• Baseball Australia announced the teams competing in the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships, held in Lismore NSW 4-9 June. Find out which teams qualified here. The winner of the championship will represent Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania at the end of August.
AT A GLANCE
• Even though the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen has been overworked lately, Liam Hendriks has settled into his new role well. Read about it at the National Post.
• After struggling earlier in the season, NSW’s Zac Shepherd is enjoying a strong May in the Detroit Tigers system. Read more about Shepherd here.
NSW native and former Boston Red Sox farmhand Mitch Dening is reportedly close to signing a contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows. More information can be found here.
To subscribe to receive The Pitch direct to your inbox, click here.