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Phil Stockman
Australia's
No.23
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'Flintoff & Dunn'
CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIA'S No.23 player to reach the US major leagues on
15 June 2006 (US time), 6'8", 26yo Queensland RH pitcher PHIL
STOCKMAN
Australia
salutes its 23rd player to reach the pinnacle of world baseball in the US major
leagues with the debut of Queensland's 6'8" pitching giant PHIL
STOCKMAN for the famous Atlanta Braves. Stockman, who arrived at Atlanta
from the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, has earned his call-up to the
struggling Braves' big league roster after his outstanding form at 'AAA'
Richmond and 'AA' Mississippi this season. Stockman made his debut pitching the
bottom of the eighth inning for the Braves in their 2-3 loss to the Florida
Marlins in front of a paltry 7,162 hard-core fans at Miami's Dolphins
Stadium.
'Big Phil' did not allow any further damage to the scoreboard, even after the
first batter he faced, Jeremy Hermida slapped a double to right field on a full
count. He then got an assist for fielding a sacrifice bunt from Alfredo Amezaga
for his first major league out. Stockman tidied up the inning by leaving
Hermida stranded on third when he induced Miguel Olivio to fly out on a 3-1
pitch and then pinch-hitter Joe Borchard lined out sharply to centrefield. In
all Stockman threw 9 of his 17 pitches for strikes in a quite impressive debut
performance of 1.0ip 1h 0er 0bb 0k (0.00ERA). Nice job "big fella"!
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Peter Moylan
Australia's
No.22
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'Flintoff & Dunn'
CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIA'S No.22 player to reach the US major leagues on
13 April 2006 (US time), 27yo Victorian utility / RH pitcher PETER MOYLAN.
So, here's one for "Ripleys Believe it or Not?" Peter Moylan, as the
commentators at the recent World Baseball Classic would constantly remind us,
is the previously unknown pharmaceuticals salesman from Melbourne, Australia
who somehow rose from obscurity to find a three-quarter arm fastball in the
95mph range that dazzled some of the major leagues best hitters. 'Big Pete'
Moylan is not such a surprise to Australian baseball fans as a guy who has been
at the forefront of Aussie baseball for some time. In fact, to explain his versatility,
Peter Flintoff recently witnessed him playing at third base and smashing two
monster home runs for his Victorian club team Blackburn against the powerhouse
club Waverley... he also recently played at first base and pitched in relief
for Victoria at the Claxton Shield... that is the type of player that Moylan
is! In fact, it was the somewhat eye-catching and remarkable side-arm velocity
of Moylan at Blacktown in 2006 that led legendary Australian scout and pitching
great Phil Dale to sign Moylan on a minor league contract to join the famous
Atlanta Braves. Fast forward to 13 April 2006 and there we find Peter Moylan
summoned from the Braves bullpen at Turner Field, in front of 37,107 fans to
pitch late relief against the Philadelphia Phillies who were already on their
way to a 7-5 victory. Moylan pitched 1.0ip 1h 0er 0bb 1k to become the 22nd
Australian player to reach the US major leagues. Pete entered the game in the
eighth inning to induce a fly out from Ryan Howard before David Bell drove a
two-base hit. He then had catcher Mike Leiberthal pop out to first before
halting the inning with David Delluci called out on strikes. In all he threw 16
pitches on debut and nine of them were for strikes. Way to go PETE!
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Chris Oxspring
Australia's
No.21 |
'Flintoff & Dunn'
CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIA'S No.21 player to reach the US major
leagues on 2 September 2005 (US time), 28yo Queensland born RH pitcher
CHRIS OXSPRING.
Australia's 2004 Olympic silver medal star CHRIS OXSPRING has had to be
patient before becoming the 21st Aussie to reach the US major leagues.
In his fifth season with the San Diego Padres organisation, Chris has
steadily worked his way through the minor leagues and has been a steady
performer at 'AAA' level for the past two seasons. He finally received
the ultimate reward with his call-up to the Padres big league roster
this week and with his major league debut today.
Chris was immediately handed a daunting task, coming in after just 1.2
innings to relieve the Padres ailing starter Brian Lawrence who had
already allowed five runs. However, while he was touched for a couple of
home runs, he also struck out seven in what was a promising
debut in the context of a game that was already out of hand for his
team. Whatever, he will never forget his major league debut against the
Milwaukee Brewers in front of 18,000 fans at Miller Park. Well done
Chris, you have deserved it!
He pitched 5.1ip 6h 5er 3bb 7k (8.44ERA) in the Padres 12-2 loss to the
Milwaukee Brewers. |
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Justin Huber
Australia's
No.20 |
'Flintoff & Dunn'
CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIA'S No.20 player to reach the US major
leagues on 21 June 2005 (US time), 23yo VICT infielder
JUSTIN HUBER.
Originally a highly regarded prospect as a catcher in the New York Mets
organisation, the strapping Melbourne raised Huber has also had to
endure an injury hindered apprenticeship as a baseball professional.
But, having been traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2004, the
opportunity to make a rapid rise to the big leagues opened up for Justin
after the Royals converted him to a first baseman.
Finally, in front of 28,206 opposition fans at the Chicago White Sox
home park US Cellular Field, Huber was summoned from the bench in the
9th inning of a 5-1 loss to pinch hit in place of regular first baseman
Matt Stairs. He was caught on a solidly hit fly ball to centre field off
Sox reliever Damasco Marte to start his career with 0-1, but simply
making his debut will be more than enough excitement for Justin Huber on
this day! We hope he has many, many more big days in the US major
leagues! Good Luck Justin! |
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Travis
Blackley
Australia's
No.18
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'Flintoff & Dunn'
CONGRATULATES AUSTRALIA'S No.18 player to reach the US major
leagues on 1 July 2004 (US time), 21yo Victorian left-hand pitching star
TRAVIS BLACKLEY.
After earning his promotion via outstanding performances in the minor
leagues over the past couple of years, Blackley took the mound for the
Seattle Mariners in his major league debut in front of 35,966 fans at
SAFECO Field. Not only did young Travis make his 'big league' debut, but
he also performed superbly to pick up the WIN as the Mariners topped the
visiting Texas Rangers 8-4. Blackley, signed as a free agent in 2000,
worked the first 5.2 innings, departing to a standing ovation after
surrendering a three-run home run to Kevin Mench that chopped a six-run
Seattle lead in half. This aside, he shackled the very dangerous Rangers
lineup with a magnificent start of 5.2ip 6h 4er 3bb 4k.
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Travis
Blackley
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No.17 - ML Aust
Micheal Nakamura
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CONGRATULATIONS from 'Flintoff & Dunn' to Australia's first new major league
baseball "ambassador" in 2003.
On Saturday,
7th June 2003 (US time) Melbourne pitcher MICHEAL NAKAMURA
became the 17th Australian player to play in the US major leagues.
Nakamura made his stunning debut in front of nearly 32,000 fans at San
Diego's Qualcomm Stadium. Nakamura could hardly have been more impressive coming
in with two runners on board in the top of the 8th innings, getting a HUGE
strikeout to end the innings, then completing the save with a blank in the
ninth innings... he pitched 1.1ip 1h 0er 0bb 2k... WAY TO GO!!
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 Chris
Snelling
Australia's
No.15 in MLB
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CONGRATULATIONS from 'Flintoff & Dunn' to Australia's first new major league
baseball "ambassador" in 2002 CHRIS SNELLING
who made his big
league debut with.the Seattle Mariners on 26 May 2002 against the Baltimore Orioles at SAFECO Field, in Seattle. Snelling
became our 15th Australian major leaguer!
CONGRATULATIONS from 'Flintoff & Dunn' to Australia's latest major league
baseball "ambassador" JOHN
STEPHENS who made his big
league debut with the Baltimore Orioles on 30 July 2002 against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field, in Tampa. Stephens becomes our 16th Australian major leaguer!
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John Stephens
Australia's
No.16 in MLB
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