Press Release Australian Baseball Federation
MELBOURNE – The Australian provisional roster has been named for the 2013 World Baseball Classic which will take place from 2 to 19 March across three rounds at international baseball venues around the World. Australia’s roster features eight former Major Leaguers and two Olympic Silver Medalists including Ryan Rowland-Smith, Peter Moylan, Luke Hughes and Chris Oxspring.
Also named on the roster are well-known senior Australia players experienced with international tournaments including Justin Huber, Brad Thomas, Chris Snelling and brothers Matt and Tim Kennelly. Team Australia Manager, Jon Deeble, is confident in the Australian talent and says consistency will be the key to Australia’s performance.
“We have a good young energetic team; it’s a comparable team to our 2009 WBC roster and we had success there against home side Mexico and were also strong against Cuba” said Deeble.
The competitiveness of the WBC spurs from its unique nature in that Major League Baseball players are unrestricted to represent their countries. Unfortunately for Australia, current major leaguers Grant Balfour and Travis Blackley, both active pitchers with the Oakland Athletics, are not available for the tournament.
“Of course it’s disappointing that we don’t have our major league players however I understand their situation” said Manager Deeble, “we have some good arms and if we keep our emphasis on pitching and defense we will stay in a lot of ball games”.
Australia showed promise at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, defeating host country Mexico 17-7 and setting a new tournament record for hits in a game with 22, including four home runs. Most recently, Australia finished fifth in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup.
Last Name
|
First Name
|
Hometown
|
Age
|
B
|
T
|
Pos
|
Organisation
|
Adamson
|
Corey
|
Bullsbrooke
|
20
|
L
|
R
|
OF
|
San Diego Padres (A)
|
Beresford
|
James
|
Glen Waverley
|
23
|
L
|
R
|
SS
|
Minnesota Twins (AA)
|
Bright
|
Adam
|
Melbourne
|
28
|
L
|
L
|
LHP
|
Melbourne Aces (ABL)
|
Davies
|
Josh
|
Bendigo
|
28
|
R
|
R
|
Ut
|
Melbourne Aces (ABL)
|
De San Miguel
|
Allan
|
Bentley
|
25
|
R
|
R
|
C
|
Baltimore Orioles (A)
|
Dening
|
Mitch
|
Gosford
|
25
|
L
|
R
|
OF
|
Sydney Blue Sox (ABL)
|
Harman
|
Brad
|
Melbourne
|
27
|
R
|
R
|
IF
|
Melbourne Aces (ABL)
|
Huber
|
Justin
|
Melbourne
|
31
|
R
|
R
|
OF
|
Melbourne Aces (ABL)
|
Hughes
|
Luke
|
Perth
|
28
|
R
|
R
|
IF
|
New York Mets (AAA)
|
Kandilas
|
David
|
Sydney
|
22
|
R
|
R
|
OF
|
Colorado Rockies (A)
|
Kennelly
|
Matt
|
Perth
|
23
|
R
|
R
|
C
|
Atlanta Braves (AA)
|
Kennelly
|
Tim
|
Perth
|
26
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Philadelphia Phillies (AAA)
|
Kent
|
Steven
|
Canberra
|
24
|
L
|
L
|
RHP
|
Canberra Cavalry (ABL)
|
Moylan
|
Peter
|
Lesmurdie
|
34
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
LA Dodgers (AAA)
|
Oxspring
|
Chris
|
Ipswich
|
35
|
L
|
R
|
RHP
|
Sydney Blue Sox (ABL)
|
Roberts
|
Josh
|
Ipswich
|
25
|
L
|
R
|
OF
|
Brisbane Bandits (ABL)
|
Rowland-Smith
|
Ryan
|
Sydney
|
29
|
L
|
L
|
LHP
|
Chicago Cubs (AAA)
|
Russell
|
Andrew
|
Melbourne
|
28
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Atlanta Braves (AAA)
|
Ruzic
|
Dushan
|
Darwin
|
30
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Adelaide Bite (ABL)
|
Saupold
|
Warwick
|
Redcliff
|
23
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Detroit Tigers (A)
|
Searle
|
Ryan
|
Brisbane
|
23
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Chicago Cubs (AA)
|
Snelling
|
Chris
|
North Miami, FL
|
31
|
L
|
L
|
OF
|
Sydney Blue Sox (ABL)
|
Tanner
|
Clayton
|
Mona Vale
|
25
|
L
|
L
|
LHP
|
San Francisco Giants (AAA)
|
Thomas
|
Brad
|
Sydney
|
35
|
L
|
L
|
LHP
|
Brother Elephants (CPBL)
|
Walker
|
Mike
|
Marysville, CA
|
24
|
L
|
R
|
IF
|
Milwaukee Brewers (A)
|
Welch
|
Stefan
|
Adelaide
|
24
|
L
|
R
|
SS
|
Pittsburgh Pirates (AA)
|
Williams
|
Matt
|
Camden
|
25
|
R
|
R
|
RHP
|
Sydney Blue Sox (ABL)
|
Wise
|
Brendan
|
Perth
|
27
|
L
|
R
|
RHP
|
Minnesota Twins (AAA)
|
Jon Deeble
|
Manager
|
Phil Dale
|
Pitching Coach
|
Glenn William
|
Hitting Coach
|
Michael Collins
|
Coach
|
Tony Harris
|
Coach
|
Graeme Lloyd
|
Coach
|
Greg Jelks
|
Coach
|
Australia’s World Baseball Classic campaign will start on 2 March in Taichung, Taiwan in Pool B against Chinese Taipei, South Korea and The Netherlands.