AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Despite starting the season strong and allowing just three hits in his first 3.2 innings this season, the Tampa Bay Rays designated Balfour for assignment on 19 April after a rough outing against the New York Yankees. The Rays (7-8, .467) are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for last place in the AL East, just two games out of first.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Showing increased comfort in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, Hendriks continued to establish himself as one of manager John Gibbons’ go-to arms with a pair of shutout appearances against the Atlanta Braves. After allowing his first earned run of the season in his most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles, Liam’s ERA sits at 1.29 in six appearances, and he’s struck out nine batters in seven innings pitched.
The Blue Jays (8-7, .533) are tied with the New York Yankees for second place in the AL East, one game behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.
17 April – It was a quick outing for Liam as the Blue Jays hosted the Atlanta Braves for an interleague rumble at the Rogers Centre. Entering the game with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, he easily retired the lone batter he faced on a fly ball to right field.
18 April – In a close ballgame against the Braves, Liam kept the Blue Jays in the game by tossing a scoreless eighth inning and striking out two batters to maintain a one-run lead. The Braves tied the game in the top of the ninth before Toronto won on a 10th-inning walkoff solo shot.
21 April – Liam gave up his first runs of the season in a rough outing against the division rival Orioles, surrendering two runs (one earned) on two hits in the sixth and seventh innings. However, the runs had little impact in the grand scheme of the game as the Blue Jays cruised to a 13-6 win over the Orioles.
AUSTRALIA BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): After starting the season slow, Gregorius has shown some improvement at the plate 15 games into the season, raising his batting average to .205 thanks in part to a two-hit performance against the Tampa Bay Rays. He also drove in a pair of runs in his most recent game against the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees (8-7, .533) sit tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for second place in the AL East, one game out of first place.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier’s April hit a small speed bump when the outfielder missed several games with illness. He returned to action on 22 April, his 25th birthday, and went 0-for-2 against the Boston Red Sox. Kiermaier is hitting .282 with two home runs on the season.
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): After tossing a scoreless inning in his first 2015 outing for the San Diego Padres, Maurer struggled in his next two appearances, surrendering three earned runs in two combined innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. He found his groove in his most recent outings against the Cubs and Colorado Rockies, tossing a pair of shutout innings and picking up the win in relief on 21 April. The Padres (10-6, .625) are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON ESPN
|
Fri 24 April |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Sat 25 April |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sun 26 April |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 27 April |
9:00 am |
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown |
ESPN |
|
Mon 27 April |
10:00 am |
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Tue 28 April |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Tue 28 April |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Wed 29 April |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 29 April |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Thu 30 April |
10:00 am |
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Pirates prospect John Holdzkom has one save and a 3.86 ERA in five appearances for the Indianapolis Indians… Matt Kennelly is hitting .250 with two RBIs in seven games for the Gwinnett Braves… After starting the season hot, James Beresford is being consistent for the Rochester Red Wings, with a .258/.333/.258 slash line.
• DOUBLE A: Perth native Warwick Saupold fared better in his second start for the Erie Seawolves, surrendering three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings.
• HIGH A: New South Welshman Tim Atherton shined in his most recent outing for the Stockton Ports, striking out 11 batters in seven innings while allowing one run on two hits. He’s now struck out 22 in 17 innings and has a 1.59 ERA and 0.65 WHIP… Logan Wade recently went 3-for-4 for the Fort Myers Miracle. Teammate Todd Van Steensel is 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts in four relief appearances.
• LOW A: Melbourne native Sam Street has a 2.25 ERA in four relief appearances for the West Virginia Power… Robbie Perkins has three RBIs in four games for the Asheville Tourists of the Colorado Rockies organisation… Zac Shepherd recently hit his first home run of the season for the West Michigan Whitecaps.
• SHORT-SEASON A / ROOKIE: Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is still months away, in June.?
COLLEGIATE NEWS
• Max Brown of Kansas State University is hitting over .350 in the month of April and was recently named Big 12 Player of the Week. Read a piece on the senior centrefielder from The Wichita Eagle here.
• A 2010 graduate of the MLB Australian Academy Program, Lucas Bakker is 3-5 with a 5.83 ERA for Elon University in North Carolina.
GRASSROOTS RESULTS AND NEWS
• The World Baseball Softball Confederation announced the groups for the 2015 18U World Cup, held in Osaka, Japan from 28 August – 6 September. Australia will play in Group A against Japan, USA, Mexico, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. See the official announcement here.
AT A GLANCE
• Oklahoma teen Chancey Luna was found guilty of murdering Melbourne baseball player Chris Lane in 2013. Read one reporter’s account of the trial here and another piece about the impact of the verdict here.
• After mixed results as a starter, Liam Hendriks has finally found a home in the Blue Jays bullpen, writes the Toronto Sun.
On the heels of John Holdzkom’s success story, Baseball New Zealand is on the hunt for more baseball talent to display at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
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AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Despite starting the season strong and allowing just three hits in his first 3.2 innings this season, the Tampa Bay Rays designated Balfour for assignment on 19 April after a rough outing against the New York Yankees. The Rays (7-8, .467) are tied with the Baltimore Orioles for last place in the AL East, just two games out of first.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Showing increased comfort in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, Hendriks continued to establish himself as one of manager John Gibbons’ go-to arms with a pair of shutout appearances against the Atlanta Braves. After allowing his first earned run of the season in his most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles, Liam’s ERA sits at 1.29 in six appearances, and he’s struck out nine batters in seven innings pitched.
The Blue Jays (8-7, .533) are tied with the New York Yankees for second place in the AL East, one game behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.
17 April – It was a quick outing for Liam as the Blue Jays hosted the Atlanta Braves for an interleague rumble at the Rogers Centre. Entering the game with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, he easily retired the lone batter he faced on a fly ball to right field.
18 April – In a close ballgame against the Braves, Liam kept the Blue Jays in the game by tossing a scoreless eighth inning and striking out two batters to maintain a one-run lead. The Braves tied the game in the top of the ninth before Toronto won on a 10th-inning walkoff solo shot.
21 April – Liam gave up his first runs of the season in a rough outing against the division rival Orioles, surrendering two runs (one earned) on two hits in the sixth and seventh innings. However, the runs had little impact in the grand scheme of the game as the Blue Jays cruised to a 13-6 win over the Orioles.
AUSTRALIA BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): After starting the season slow, Gregorius has shown some improvement at the plate 15 games into the season, raising his batting average to .205 thanks in part to a two-hit performance against the Tampa Bay Rays. He also drove in a pair of runs in his most recent game against the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees (8-7, .533) sit tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for second place in the AL East, one game out of first place.
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier’s April hit a small speed bump when the outfielder missed several games with illness. He returned to action on 22 April, his 25th birthday, and went 0-for-2 against the Boston Red Sox. Kiermaier is hitting .282 with two home runs on the season.
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): After tossing a scoreless inning in his first 2015 outing for the San Diego Padres, Maurer struggled in his next two appearances, surrendering three earned runs in two combined innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. He found his groove in his most recent outings against the Cubs and Colorado Rockies, tossing a pair of shutout innings and picking up the win in relief on 21 April. The Padres (10-6, .625) are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON ESPN
Fri 24 April
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Sat 25 April
9:00 am
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Sun 26 April
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Mon 27 April
9:00 am
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown
ESPN
Mon 27 April
10:00 am
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN
Tue 28 April
9:00 am
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball
ESPN
Tue 28 April
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Wed 29 April
9:00 am
ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 29 April
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Thu 30 April
10:00 am
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
ESPN
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Pirates prospect John Holdzkom has one save and a 3.86 ERA in five appearances for the Indianapolis Indians… Matt Kennelly is hitting .250 with two RBIs in seven games for the Gwinnett Braves… After starting the season hot, James Beresford is being consistent for the Rochester Red Wings, with a .258/.333/.258 slash line.
• DOUBLE A: Perth native Warwick Saupold fared better in his second start for the Erie Seawolves, surrendering three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings.
• HIGH A: New South Welshman Tim Atherton shined in his most recent outing for the Stockton Ports, striking out 11 batters in seven innings while allowing one run on two hits. He’s now struck out 22 in 17 innings and has a 1.59 ERA and 0.65 WHIP… Logan Wade recently went 3-for-4 for the Fort Myers Miracle. Teammate Todd Van Steensel is 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 10 strikeouts in four relief appearances.
• LOW A: Melbourne native Sam Street has a 2.25 ERA in four relief appearances for the West Virginia Power… Robbie Perkins has three RBIs in four games for the Asheville Tourists of the Colorado Rockies organisation… Zac Shepherd recently hit his first home run of the season for the West Michigan Whitecaps.
• SHORT-SEASON A / ROOKIE: Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is still months away, in June.?
COLLEGIATE NEWS
• Max Brown of Kansas State University is hitting over .350 in the month of April and was recently named Big 12 Player of the Week. Read a piece on the senior centrefielder from The Wichita Eagle here.
• A 2010 graduate of the MLB Australian Academy Program, Lucas Bakker is 3-5 with a 5.83 ERA for Elon University in North Carolina.
GRASSROOTS RESULTS AND NEWS
• The World Baseball Softball Confederation announced the groups for the 2015 18U World Cup, held in Osaka, Japan from 28 August – 6 September. Australia will play in Group A against Japan, USA, Mexico, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. See the official announcement here.
AT A GLANCE
• Oklahoma teen Chancey Luna was found guilty of murdering Melbourne baseball player Chris Lane in 2013. Read one reporter’s account of the trial here and another piece about the impact of the verdict here.
• After mixed results as a starter, Liam Hendriks has finally found a home in the Blue Jays bullpen, writes the Toronto Sun.
On the heels of John Holdzkom’s success story, Baseball New Zealand is on the hunt for more baseball talent to display at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.