The 2019/20 Australian Baseball League (ABL) season opened last weekend, and Melbourne Aces and Geelong-Korea have selected a group of development players to train with the team and get some game time during home series.
While the ABL does have its fair share of imports, Victorian teams are eager to expand the opportunities for local players to get involved, giving these young athletes a chance to improve their skills and prepare for bright futures.
Both the Aces and Geelong-Korea have selected a few development players who will gain exposure and experience this ABL season. Jon Deeble, Manager of Melbourne Aces, says the season holds a lot of potential, especially with the quality of local Victorian players. “We are looking to win the championship. It’s a new start for the Aces and we’ve been knocking on the doors for the last few years, so we feel it’s our time this year,” Deeble said. “We need to develop our local players first and foremost. We need to find a place for them to play and we hope to give our local kids the chance to go ahead.”
Four Melbourne Aces development players have been selected from the Victorian State Team Program, including Zak Skinner, Henry Hayman, Conor Myles and Dante Caruso. These athletes will train alongside the Aces, work with experienced coaches, sit on the bench and possibly get some game time in home series. “This is a really important part of the Aces,” Deeble said. “It’s about developing baseball in Victoria and getting more kids to play, with a pathway they can look up to.”
Deeble has watched the success of these development players in recent seasons. “The last couple of years we’ve been able to play a lot of the kids and we feel that it’s helped them perform well at the National Championships,” Deeble said. “We want to give them that exposure and potentially have college and professional scouts see them. At the end of the day, we’ve made a path to developing them whether they become major league, professional, Australian or college players. We’ve played a part in helping along the way.”
Looking at the bigger picture is key for the Aces as they work with development players. “We have to tie the whole thing together, it’s not just about us but it’s about how we make baseball better in Victoria,” Deeble said.
Development players will also be capitalising on awesome ABL opportunities with Geelong-Korea. Manager Graeme Lloyd says Kobe Greenhalgh, Lachlan Hockey, Jarryd Wood and Connor Hughes will have access to extensive training and skills development with Geelong-Korea. “Hopefully we are seeing the next generation of baseballers in the ABL and helping them out,” Lloyd said. “We are here to win, there’s some really good teams in the ABL but we’ve got a good young professional team here and I can’t wait to see them work.”
Hockey has already had some practice in the bullpen, while Hughes took the mound for Geelong-Korea in Sunday’s game against Sydney Blue Sox, much to the delight of his Geelong baseball community. Lloyd looks forward to seeing these athletes do more this season. “This is a group of good young kids and I think they can help us this year,” Lloyd said. “Watching them train with the boys, they are joining in beautifully. It’s going to be a lot of fun and hopefully we can get them into a few games to help develop their careers.”
2019/20 ABL tickets and memberships are on sale for Geelong Korea HERE and Melbourne Aces HERE.
View the broadcast guide for the 2019/20 ABL season HERE, and sign up for a free 14-day Kayo Trial to get started.