The Austrian Bundesliga kicks off its 2021 season under the floodlights on Friday, with last year’s runner up, the Traiskirchen Grasshoppers, travelling to face the Diving Ducks Wiener Neustadt. First pitch is scheduled for 19:00 (CEST).
A recently completed fan poll conducted by the Austrian Baseball Softball Federation has the Grasshoppers as co-favorites to claim the 2021 title, right alongside the defending champion Vienna Metrostars, who claimed their 15th Austrian title last season after defeating the Grasshoppers 3-1 in the championship series. The fans also consider the Attnang-Puchheim Athletics as strong title candidates.
The Austrian Bundesliga joins the Czech Extraliga and the Spanish Baseball League (SBL) in opening their 2021 seasons this weekend. Like in Austria, the Extraliga will start under the lights, with three contests scheduled for Friday night. The SBL begins play with a Valencia derby on Saturday, with the Astros taking on city rival CBS Antorcha Valencia.