AUSTRALIAN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
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Corey Adamson

While the name "ADAMSON" is not particularly unusual, baseball fans would probably put together the name Adamson and his WA home with the fact that his father TONY ADAMSON is one of WA's greatest ever baseball products. Tony is a Claxton Shield Helms Award Winner and ABL star slugger who became an inaugural inductee into 'Flintoff & Dunn's AMLB Hall-Of-Fame'.

The following story was transposed incomplete from media releases:

Baseball WA and the San Diego Padres today announced the signing of Corey Adamson to a U.S. professional baseball contract for an undisclosed 6-figure sum.  Adamson attracted interest from a number of US Clubs after he lead the Western Australian Under 16’s to a national championship in January. 

Adamson was the top performer in a number of offensive categories during the tournament including home runs, RBI (runs batted in), slugging percentage, runs scored, triples, and total bases.  Baseball experts describe Adamson as an outstanding athlete who should end up being a complete 5 tool player.

Adamson, an outstanding footy player as well, and projected top AFL draft pick, will take the road less travelled by for most West Australians and pursue the opportunity to play Major League Baseball.  Adamson was excited and eager to get his professional baseball career started with the announcement coming on the first day he was eligible to sign (July 2nd following his 16th birthday) according to Major League Baseball Rules. 

Moko Moanaroa

History has been created by the Boston Red Sox in signing Moko Moanaroa, 18yr old brother of Boss who signed late last month with Boston .  This is the first time in Australia , at least, that two brothers have both been signed by the same club.

Moko, like so many other young players commenced his baseball involvement playing in T-ball and junior baseball in Newcastle with the Toronto Tigers.  He progressed through the usual channel of NSW Country Championships and NSW Country teams but it wasn't until he competed in the NSW Combined High School Carnival that Auburn Coach Shaun Smith realising that he had potential approached Moko. Shaun suggested to Moko and his father Joe that he thought Moko would do well in the Sydney U/18 Competition. 

Well the proof is in the pudding. Moko not only did alright but he won the U/18 Sydney Competition Batting award with an average of .436 and steered Auburn to a Grand Final win hitting an impressive 11 hits from 14 at bats in the final Series. 

Moko has continued to impress taking out Auburn 's hitting award and players’ player awards in his first year of first grade in 2007 and then an Opportunity came his way when he was asked to participate in the Inaugural Israel Baseball League. Moko was the youngest player in the League but once again proved his worth when he completed a good season for the Modiin Miracle making the final and being one of their top hitters. His average of .321 which included 6 Home Runs proved that this young 18 year old could compete at higher levels if given the opportunity.

The Yr12 student at Hunter Sports High School showed similar hitting power from the left to his younger brother and Boston were immediately interested in signing him after his workout with Jon Deeble and made approaches to him and his family through agent Trevor Jarrett who represented both players

Moko will more than likely either join Boss at the MLB Academy on the Gold Coast when they return from Florida next week or stay to compete in the Gulf Coast League if arrangements can be made regarding his continuing education.

MOKO MOANAROA is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Boss Moanaroa

Outside Newcastle, where he lives, he was not a well known baseball name although he had achieved some fame [no fortune] in the BMX world, becoming a State, National and World Champion plate holder in his early teens.  The Yr11 student at Hunter Sports High School started playing T ball for the Toronto Tigers Club because as he says "I was pretty young but I was getting bored just watching my brother play." 

By his early teens he was considering his various sporting options but with the encouragement of his brother Moko, and Auburn and State coach Shaun Smith, he decided to stay with baseball.   He soon justified that choice by rising through Newcastle representative teams to selection in NSW Country teams in 2005 [U14] including the Championship winning NSW Country U16 team in 2007.

He was still flying under the radar however, and it was only this year that he received a coveted scholarship to the NSW Institute of Sport.   Head Coach at the Institute, Andre Desjardin had admired his hitting potential and felt that with advanced coaching and a gym program he could become a successful left handed hitter.

His coach Shaun Smith was beginning to tell all who would listen that this player had genuine power at the plate.  One who did listen was National Coach and Red Sox scout Jon Deeble.   He saw Boss in action at the National Schoolboys in Lismore two weeks ago and liked what he saw.  

Three things immediately happened in Lismore.   Boss was selected in the All Star team, was added to the Academy set to commence on the Gold Coast at the end of the month and Jon decided to fly to Sydney to give Boss a solid workout and film him for review by the Boston hierarchy.  The Red Sox had seen enough and commenced negotiations almost immediately.   "Boston liked his pure power from the left side," said his agent Trevor Jarrett, "and saw him as another player in the mould of David Ortiz."

Its a long way from the Toronto Tigers and Wyong Roos to Fenway Park but that's the journey Boss is now about to embark upon.  He's expected to be flown over to Florida in the next few days and then he will be off to the MLB Academy on the Gold Coast.  He has to return to school next year to finish his HSC but will be sent again to the Academy, or as it is known to MLB, the Australian Winter League.  Education is important to Boss and his family so his 6 figure bonus package includes a scholarship component.

BOSS MOANAROA is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

David Kandilas

David will start spring training in Arizona in early 2009 for the Rockies, and then move to Wyoming to play in the Pioneer League that same year.

David started playing 'T-Ball' with Birrong aged five, and then to the Bankstown Sports Baseball Club before moving to the Cronulla club in the Sutherland Shire.

In 2003 David competed in the Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, USA and on returning from the US was selected in the first of many successive Cronulla representative teams.

David showed great athletic ability at a tender age and as a result in 2007 he broke a 27 year-old school under-17 100-metre sprint record with a time of 11.02 seconds. Also in this same year David gained a scholarship with the NSW Institute of Sport and as a 16 year-old recorded an outfield throwing velocity of 100.6 mph (162km/h).

Another milestone in 2007 saw David invited to the prestigious Australian Major League Baseball Academy on the Gold Coast, where he was awarded MVP for Sessions 1 & 2. Head coach David Nilsson, a veteran of 9 years in the Major Leagues, at that time commented, "I am very impressed with David's speed, work ethic, above average throwing arm and overall ability". Nilsson added recently on hearing of David's signing, "If David has patience and perseverance he has the potential to go all the way to the Major Leagues. I am thrilled to hear about David signing with the Colorado Rockies".

During visits to 'Playball' Baseball Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in both 2006 and 2007 David was seen by various scouts, and this was the beginning of the road to his contract.

However, the road had a slight bump. On the eve of the 2008 AAA under-18 Australian Championships David suffered appendicitis, which resulted in surgery, and as such he had to withdraw from the NSW state side. He bounced back hard though, that being his nature. First he competed in Series 5 of the Claxton Shield with the Australia Provincial team, recording respectable batting averages. Then, as a member of the NSW state under-23 team competing in the Australian Championships, David recorded a stellar performance hitting 0.765 while connecting for three home runs in just 17 at bats, and as a result lead almost all offensive categories.

It was at this tournament that David further caught the eye of Phil Allen the Rockies Australian based scout. "David has continued to impress me from the first time I saw him in a competitive environment a couple of years ago. An associate of mine, Wayne Finney, alerted me to David's talents and I have followed his progress ever since. David's competitive natures combined with an uncompromising spirit of endeavor are two of the components of a complexity of tools I consider necessary to succeed at a professional level. He has displayed above average arm strength, above average speed, an ability to get the head of the bat to the ball, and is developing power at the plate. These tools combined with an energy and an appetite for the game, and an inner competitiveness lead me to believe he has a very real chance of success".

Kyle Perkins

It was at the U/18 tournament that Perkins first caught Rowland’s eye. “I knew immediately that Kyle was the guy for us” said Rowland, who was responsible for signing all 4 catchers currently on the Anaheim Angels 40 man roster when he was scouting director there a few years ago. According to Rowland “Kyle was a standout behind the plate. He showed solid glove- work which is neat and tidy, an inherent ability to frame the pitch, solid blocking skills and quick transfer to a throw”.

Having found his first quality player Rowland wasted no time in fulfilling the other Yankee goal of setting up a permanent base here down under. This lead him to veteran Australian and Canberra based scout John Wadsworth who had previously been with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Not only did Wadsworth turn out to be exactly what the Yankees were looking for, but being a Canberra native, he was also able to offer additional insight on Perkins as he had been following the young catcher’s progress for the last few years. Wadsworth added “Kyle demonstrates solid and consistent bat to ball contact and we anticipate his current ‘gap power’ will convert to some run producing home run power as he physically develops”.

This was all Rowland needed to hear and he gave the green light for Wadsworth to contact Kyle’s agent Stuart Hanrahan from Runway Sports Management to see what it would take to get Perkins into the famous Yankee pinstripes. Wadsworth didn’t mince his words when he met with Hanrahan suggesting that “We rate Kyle towards the top of our ‘wanted prospects’ list and previous scouting opinions regarding the way Kyle carries himself and plays the game were reinforced for us in the recently completed Australian Under 18 Series in Perth”.

It was clear to both Hanrahan and Kyle’s parents that the Yankees were extremely serious about Kyle. However, not wanting to take Kyle’s focus away from his responsibilities with the Territories team, it was decided that the club would make an offer after the tournament, one they promised would demonstrate just how serious they were. The Yankees were true to their word and a few days later, tabled an offer worth over $100,000 in order to secure Perkins’ services for the next 7 years.

Todd 
Van Steensel

TWO Sydney high school students have become the latest Aussies to be snapped up by Major League baseball clubs for big dollars. Despite baseball failing to take off Down Under, US scouts from glamour clubs have not stopped taking an interest in the local players with Adam O'Neill and Todd Van Steensel singled out by the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies respectively.

Both teenagers are pitchers and were understood to have signed on for $125,000.

Given both O'Neill and Van Steensel are in Year 12, they will complete their HSC before making the trek to the US and work their way up the long ladder to the top.

Van Steensel, from Rooty Hill, said he only took up baseball because of his love of the uniform. "I was tagging along to a game one day with my brother and because I liked the outfits I decided to start playing," said Van Steensel, a pitcher who has no troubles launching them off the mound at 140km/h. "I didn't think I'd ever make a career out of the game, I only hoped, but I'm glad it's happened."

O'Neill, from Manly, failed to make the NSW side for three consecutive years but bided his time and worked on his pitching before reaping the rewards. "I set myself an 18-month goal to make the under-18 NSW side and, if I could do that, then I was going to work towards signing a professional contract," said O'Neill, also a pitcher.

Agent Trevor Jarrett, who signed the pair, said Van Steensel was always destined for the big league.

"It was only a matter of time before Todd put pen to paper, but with Adam, he sort of slipped under the radar," Jarrett said.

Jarrett said US scouts had a great respect for Australia when it came to producing the next generation of professionals.

TODD VAN STEENSEL & ADAM O'NEILL are managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

James Linger

James Linger made headlines last month when he was paid US$120,000 (A$132,000) to sign with the Atlanta Braves organisation for five years.  He starred at the Australian Under-19 championships and was picked to represent Queensland in Australia ’s premier baseball tournament, the Claxton Shield. 

Queensland were knocked out of the Claxton Shield last weekend and despite missing the first three games, Linger still knocked up the highest batting average for the tournament. Not bad for a high school kid playing against major league players and Olympians.

And now Australian assistant coach Phil Dale said Linger had the potential become an Olympian too.

“There is a need for his position, shortstop, and we feel like he’s one of the bright young guys who play that position,” Dale said. “We carry an Australian roster that we select the official team from and he’s on the squad. “His selection is a compliment to the way he’s come on the past 12 months. 

“Realistically, he’s a couple of years from holding down the position but the way he’s playing he has every opportunity,” Dale said. “You never know the way he is going. “We wouldn’t bring him in if we didn’t seriously want to have a look at him.

“He is hitting the ball really well, running the bases ... he has some tools, he’s an athlete.

Alessio Angelucci

Hard work, perseverance and determination paid off this week for 19 year old Manly baseballer Alessio Angelucci. Angelucci proved that it is still possible to achieve the dream of playing professional baseball, even if  you miss out on selection in the U/18 state team, when he inked a deal to play professional baseball with the San Diego Padres. 

While he represented NSW at the U/16 level at the National Championships, Angelucci narrowly missed selection a few years ago when he trialed for the U/18 team.  For many in Australia, the opportunity to showcase a player’s talents at this tournament is the last throw of the dice for aspiring young professional baseballers. However, Angelucci never lost sight of his dream. He hit the gym and continued to work on his hitting and running.  He also turned his hand to some pitching, and the combination of all of it proved that there is life for potential Australian professional baseballers beyond the National Championships and the coveted Australian Academy Program.

Earlier this year Angelucci renewed his relationship with his former U/16 NSW team coach Stuart Hanrahan. Hanrahan took over the first grade coaching position at the Manly Baseball Club in July 2007 and realised immediately that the improvements Angelucci had made meant that he was going to be an integral component in the club’s first grade lineup. After a stellar start to the season, it was apparent to Hanrahan that Angelucci had developed the tools that would interest professional baseball scouts. ‘Alessio’s improvements in power, speed and arm strength certainly put him in a category that would interest professional scouts’ said Hanrahan who also happens to be a baseball agent with Runway Sports. ‘I made a few calls and arranged for scouts from the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs to put Alessio through his paces’.

The workout could not have gone better for the athletic teenager as he registered throwing speeds of up to 90 miles per hour during his pitching workout. The tryout went so well in fact that San Diego scout Trevor Schumm called Hanrahan only days later to make an offer to sign Alessio to a minor league contract. Schumm, who has been the Australian based scout for the Padres for around 5 years was impressed with Alessio’s tryout. ‘Al was impressive at our workout and we are excited with his potential. He has a plus arm and he's a big strong athletic kid’ said Schumm who travelled across from Perth to sign the teenager.

The hard work for Alessio, however, is just about to begin. The Padres will monitor him over the next few months and for the moment consider him to be a two way player with the potential to either pitch or play the outfield. According to Schumm ‘we will let him swing the bat for a while before we decide how best to use his tools. As we see him more, and learn more about his abilities, we will determine where he ultimately ends up’. It is likely that the Padres will send Alessio to the prestigious Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP) in 2008 in order to extend his skills. ‘At this point he's a two-way player who needs some time to develop and refine his skills’ said Schumm who has also suggested that the club may take Alessio to the USA for Padres Instructional League late next year if he improves the way they expect.  Expectations that are duly warranted when you consider that according to Schumm, ‘Alessio already has an average Major League fastball’. 

For the remained of the story and/or to visit the RUNWAY SPORTS web site visit http://www.runwaysports.com.au

Tim Stanford

As a youngster Tim was a swimmer with a great future . From 8yo to his early teens every indication was that Tim was heading for big things in the pool. He was his schools age champion for 7 straight years and got to a worthy 2nd in the State Championships. He had just as much success on the track field becoming the Athletic Champion for his middle school and achieving state level at many track and field events.

However, his decision to play T Ball at the age of 6 with the Galston Baseball Club was to have the most profound affect on his sporting career.   Whilst at Galston he competed in the U12 Association Cup  & the U14 State Cup before moving at the age of 14 to the Kellyville Club, having enjoyed his first NSW representative experience in the NSW U14 team which won the National Championships in Alice Springs.

He continued to  blossom and not only made the U16 NSW team in 2005 but was invited to the prestigious Major League Academy on the Gold Coast as a 15yr old and gained selection in the Australian AA team which won the Bronze Medal at the World Championships in Mexico.  

At the completion of his junior playing days Tim made a momentous decision to move across Sydney to the Canterbury Club to work with veteran pitching coach Barry Holland who he had worked with as a scholarship holder at the NSW Institute.  

That move proved to be successful but not without frustration.  He made State selection in the U18's in 2006 & 2007 as well as the NSW Schoolboys in 2006 but despite some early outstanding performances his progress was patchy due to struggles with his health until it was discovered that he had a number of allergies that was having a negative affect on his ability to train and perform and specifically reduced his ability to increase his velocity.   

At 6' 1" Tim has a mid to high 80's FB with effective offspeed and good control and presence on the mound.   Having just finished his HSC Tim is ready for pro baseball and will get a visa and head to Arizona to commence his first spring training next March.  He is the first Australian signed by the Rangers and they have to hope that Jim Colborn has as much success with Tim as he had with his other Aussie signings.

TIM STANFORD is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Trent Baker

Brisbane Grammar Yr12 student Trent Baker has a busy schedule as he completes his final year of schooling.  Assessments; assignments and exams are ahead of him.  Whilst he cannot be sure how he will do, one thing he can be sure of - he's got a job next year.

He will be playing baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Whilst he was selected to attend the prestigious MLB funded Academy on the Gold Coast as a LHP attracting the attention of a number of scouts it was as a two way player that the Indians saw him. A number of clubs made immediate contact with his agent after his initial outing at the Academy, but it was the Indians who finally made the offer he couldn't refuse. "I knew I could wait until the U18's next January if I didn't get what I wanted", said the 17yr old schoolboy.

Trent went out to join a soccer team when he was 7 but found that it wasn't the right season and so as the son of a softball player he was advised to try tee ball  with the Northstar club.  He did and instantly fell in love with the game.  After his tee ball days he joined the Windsor Royals Club and has been with them ever since. 

In 2004 he was first noticed by the schoolboy selectors and has represented Queensland Schoolboys ever since culminating this year in his selection in the Australian Schoolboys team which is touring to Vancouver later in the year. He was also selected to play in the QLD U16 team in 2006 and the U18's this year. "I was always the smallest and so had to work harder to gain selection in these teams", said Trent from his Brisbane home, "I always did extra training myself to make up for it".   He was lucky with the people who have coached him along the way, developing him both as a player and as a person.

Its not surprising that he has been signed as an outfielder by the Indians as that was where he played in his early years in both the QLD schoolboys and the Rams teams. He was moved onto the mound in 2006 with the QAS and the Rams programs where Peter Gahan had plenty of opportunities to observe his skill and his will to work. Its his prowess as a hitter that has created most of the Indian's interest. "Whilst we have signed him as an Outfielder we know how well he can pitch and will certainly keep that in mind," said Peter when negotiating for Trent's services.   

TRENT BAKER is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Justin Erasmus

It is often said that life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.   For 17yr old Justin Erasmus it has been a world encompassing journey as well as an adventure. 

He was born in Johannesburg where he was introduced to the game by his baseball fanatic Grandfather and Father; traveled to Melbourne where baseball became even more ingrained at the Cheltenham Club, home of the Blackley brothers, and then on to Brisbane where, despite being overlooked for the Queensland Academy of Sport, he was able to attract the attention at least of the state selectors and now, more importantly, the Boston Red Sox.

Jon Deeble, the Red Sox scout who covers the whole pacific rim for the Red Sox, had seen Justin at the U18 National Championships and liked his attitude and silky smooth delivery.  "Despite his lack of size his arm worked well and he had that competitive nature that augurs well for the future", said the veteran scout and National Team Head Coach.

Justin has always been the small one of the team - he's just heading to 6' now and is still described as slight but athletic.  "Being the smallest all the time just meant that I had to work harder than everyone else," said the Yr 11 student from his home on the Gold Coast.  His first brush with fame was when he hit a home run as a 6yr old in an U8 game.  Not long after he made his first regional team for the U10's.

On migrating to Melbourne he widened his sporting interests and was soon having success in cross country running, as well as dabbling with Basketball, Soccer and Cricket.   But it was inevitable that baseball would claim his main interest. 

On moving to Brisbane, or the Gold Coast to be more precise, Justin soon gained state recognition with his selection in 2006 in the U16 Rams team that played in Mt Gambier and also the Open Age Schoolboys team that competed in Adelaide the following May. He was again to be disappointed in not receiving a scholarship to the QAS but that setback just made him work even harder and he made good use of every opportunity, pitching some innings at the MLB Academy when arms were getting tired and the coaches were looking for fresh pitchers.    His selection in the 2007 U18 team as a bottom age player was just recognition of the advances that he had made as a result of his hard work and dedication.   "I was absolutely over the moon when I got the chance to be the starting pitcher in the semi final against NSW who were always going to be a tough team to beat."   Obviously the QLD coaching staff were delighted with his performance, spearheading their win over NSW, but so too was Red Sox scout Jon Deeble.   Jon took a video of that performance and after receiving the go ahead from Boston approached Justin's agent to discuss an offer.

JUSTIN ERASMUS is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Elliot Biddle

He has hardly thrown a pitch since he was fifteen years old but the Minnesota Twins saw enough out of Geelong Giants youngster Elliot Biddle last Thursday night to offer him a professional baseball contract.

“I was interested in him as a pitcher back when he was in under 16’s, then I saw him on the mound last week and decided that he has a real future as a pitcher with us.”  Twins scout Howie Norsetter said 

The 18 year old lefty wasn’t expecting to play professional baseball this year, in fact already had his year planned out. He’d agreed to go away with Victoria’s under 23 side over Easter and was preparing to play centerfield for his hometown Geelong Giants in Baseball Victoria’s Summit Holden State League finals in March so when he got the call from the Twins it was unexpected.

“Howie called me after I pitched in a VIS (Victorian Institute of Sport) game on Thursday night and told me they wanted to make me an offer.”

“It was very unexpected, I’ve only started pitching again in the past few months.”  The clearly chuffed Biddle said.

Tim Atherton

Dreams and destiny have long been a part of his sporting career. Whilst he started as a T Baller he was also very much involved in soccer and cycling [his father had been a champion cyclist].  

Soccer hurt his knees so he decided to give that a miss but in baseball he had instant success and an indication of what the future held for him.  " I really enjoyed it, I remember my first game at Wauhope - I hit two home runs and I pitched as well."   He was also having considerable success with cycling, becoming the State Champion for his age, but baseball offered more in the way of a career and travel.   It wasn't long before he began  to experience the travel benefits of baseball - being selected in the Country NSW U14 team and from there gaining selection in the Cal Ripken team which finished 3rd at the Annual tournament in the US.   He was selected in the World All Stars team and the World All Star Defensive team, the first player to make both all star teams.   He began to dream.

Tim continued to pitch and hit his way into every Country NSW team possible making selection in all six teams from U14 through to U18.   During that time he gained selection into the NSWIS, where he worked with Head Coach Andre Desjardin on his hitting and Barry Holland with his pitching.   After his 2nd year in U16's he was sent to the MLB Academy on the Gold Coast and from there the AA Australian team which went to Mexico for the World Championships, winning bronze.  His earlier decision to concentrate on baseball had proved to be wise indeed.  By the time he had turned 17 he had played in every state except SA and traveled to 3 countries to play. 

The Twins weren't the only team interested in signing Tim of course.   Some wanted to sign him as a pitcher others as a hitter and by the end of the U18's a number of offers were on the table.   However, it was decided to hold off making any decisions when he was selected to play for the Provincial team in the Claxton Shield in Perth immediately following the U18's.   It was felt that he could only improve his bargaining position by playing in the Claxton Shield - any success he might have there would increase his value and that certainly proved to be correct, with increased offers from both the Twins and the Phillies, eventually agreeing to terms with the Twins on the final day of the Claxton Shield. 

TIM ATHERTON is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Jacob Reust

Obviously we wish him every success in his professional journey.

The following story was transposed incomplete from the REDCLIFFE PADRES web site:
It has just been announced that 17 year old Redcliffe Leagues Padres Baseball club’s Jacob Reust has signed a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians. With a fastball currently touching 90 miles per hour, Reust weighed up a number of offers from clubs including the San Diego Padres but chose to sign with the Indians. 

He joins current A Graders Jay Nilsson (Indians) and Alan Schoenberger (Phillies) who have previously signed professionally and are playing for the club. The contract not only covers baseball but his education in either the US or Australia as well. Reust, who attends Southern Cross Catholic College, is a member of the leadership team and academically talented as well, something he is keen to maintain whilst pursuing his dream of playing baseball in the States.

Reust becomes the first born and bred local player to sign this type of contract. Jacob, a pitcher by trade, has played his entire career with the club, beginning as a 5 year old playing tee ball and progressing to the club’s senior A Grade team. Along the way he has played for Queensland junior Age teams, Regional teams, Queensland Schoolboys teams, represented Australia at the age of Under 13 in the Cal Ripken World Series, been a member of the QAS and last year attended the MLBAAP held on the Gold Coast.

We will start by offering our congratulation to our friends at BJS Player Agents on the event of their 50th Aussie signing not too long ago... and they have since taken this total further! It is just another sign of what a productive baseball nursery Australia has become. 

Some other recent signings have included:

RIKI RHODES - RH Pitcher from Queensland who signed with the Cincinnati Reds
RYAN SEARLE - RH Pitcher from Queensland who signed with the Chicago Cubs
ANGUS ROEGER - Outfielder from South Australia who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies
CAMERON LAMB - RH Pitcher from Western Australia who signed with the San Francisco Giants.

We congratulate all of these boys and wish them every success.

The latest trio signed by BJS are featured below:  

Tayler Rowe

The following story was transposed incomplete from the BJS web site:

From the traditional "4 seasons in a day" climate of Melbourne to the constant heat and humidity of Florida . That's the journey that 17yr old Tayler Rowe will be making this year as he sets off on his dream of making it all the way to the Major Leagues. First stop - Ft Myers, Florida spring training home of the famous Minnesota Twins Baseball Club.  

The Twins are  the club that gave Aussies Grant Balfour, Brad Thomas and fellow Melbournian Michael Nakamura their Major League starts.   The other connection is that all of these players were signed by the Twins experienced scout Howie Norsetter who also calls Melbourne home after moving here from the US a number of years ago.

Howie has been scouting Tayler for a couple of years now.   That's not surprising considering that Tayler has a long history of State representation starting with the Victorian U14 team in 2003 in Alice Springs then stints with both the Victorian Provincials and Victoria in the U16's in 2004 & 2005 following which he was sent to the MLB funded Academy on the Gold Coast.   He pitched well enough at the Academy to gain a coveted place in the Australian AA [U17] team that competed in the World Championships coming home from Mexico with the Bronze medal.

"That World Championship was a fantastic experience and made me realise that I would love to play baseball for a living so I really started working hard on my pitching and my fitness with Matt Sheldon-Collins at the VIS" - the kindergarten for so many young professionals.   His hard work began paying off and he was selected as a bottom age player in the Victorian U18 team in 2006, sent for a further session at last years MLB Academy and then again was given pitching duties for Victoria in this years National AAA Championship in Geelong.

Norsetter soon saw what he was seeking.   A strong pitcher who owned a fast ball in the high 80's - occasionally getting as high as the 90's - with command of his pitchers and a dogged determination to win.   There is a ruggedness about Tayler that inspires confidence that when the chips are down he will increase his workload to get the job done.   His smiling demeanor off the field is replaced with a furrowed brow of determination on the mound.   "Naturally I liked his velocity but control of his pitches is more important and I liked his desire to beat every hitter he faces", said Norsetter at Tayler's contract signing in Melton not long after the AAA tournament.

TAYLER ROWE is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Lachlan Hodge

The following story was transposed incomplete from the BJS web site:

18yr old Lachlan from Gymea in the southern suburb of Sydney known as "The Shire" has been in the sights of the baseball scouts for some time. "I was sent to the MLB Academy last year and whilst I was there scouts began talking to me about signing," 

 He was approached by a number of clubs interested in his services during the prestigious academy on the Gold Coast but circumstances encouraged Lachlan to wait until he had competed in the U18 National Championships in Geelong in January before seriously considering his options.   This proved to be a good move as his value increased as a result of his performances for NSW and a number of teams came with offers.   It certainly makes an agent's job easier when more than one team is offering a contract and Lachlan finally signed with the Mets for a higher bonus than had been offered at the Academy.

"I I started playing baseball when I was very young because of my brothers and when I was in the Cronulla Team in U14's I was introduced to pitching coach Rob Maclean who tutored me about the game."   His hard work with Rob began paying off and he was selected as a player in the NSW U14 team in 2003, again with the U16's in 2005 and then missed out on the NSW team in 2006 but was picked up as a "loan" player for the Territories team [see pic on left].   In one of those ironies of life it turned out he performed so well with the Territories team that he gained selection in the MLB Academy on the Gold Coast which set the whole bidding process into action and further selection in the NSW U18 team this year.

Following his early times with pitching coach Rob MacLean, the St Patrick's College schoolboy graduated in 2006 to the NSW Institute of Sport and gained the benefit then of working with pitching guru Barry Holland who looks after the pitchers for the NSWIS.   Barry worked on Lachlan 's control and smoothed out his action.  Despite having played Basketball, Rugby League and AFL he began to realise through encouragement from MacLean and Holland that his professional future was on the pitcher's mound as a "lefty"   "The Mets are such a famous team that its sure a great honour to now be one of them.  He wont be alone there - fellow Sydneysiders Gavin Dlouhy and Shaun Tabrett are also with the Mets as is Pat Maat from the Central Coast .  "I know those guys well so it will make it easier for me to settle in when I get over there. 

LACHLAN HODGE is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

David Harriott

Jon Deeble the Red Sox scout who covers the whole pacific rim for the recent World Champions had seen David at the MLB Academy on the Gold Coast and liked his attitude and quick strong arm.  "When I saw him on the mound with his strong arm and long legs I was immediately interested", said the veteran scout who is building up the Red Sox involvement with Australians.   Having that former Aussie Major League pioneer Craig Shipley as his boss certainly helps.

Like most Australians, David started at the T Ball level having been taken down to the tryouts by a friend up the road.  I started in the Bankstown U6's and played with them all the way up to the U16's."he said from his Yagoona West home following his signing.  "I played in every single Bankstown Rep team at the U12; U14 and U16 level."   He now plays for the Canterbury/Bankstown Major League club under veteran coach Barry Holland.  His weekend performances on the mound for the U18's are intermingled with time in 1st grade mid week - the nursery for so many recently signed players such as Shaun Tabrett; Josh Wells and Gavin Dlouhy.

His first experience of the life of the traveling baseballer occurred in 2002 when he went on trips to Osaka with the NSW U12 juniors and also to Melbourne to participate in an U12 rubber ball tournament.  His next overseas trip will be next month to Ft Myers.  He traveled regularly after that with the Winter Development Squad that is one of the innovative programs in NSW for elite players.  One of the highlights of the Winter Development visits to QLD was a visit to the MLB Academy and David was inspired to work hard towards getting a scholarship.

His State representative career began as it so often does for the elite athlete with the NSW U14's in 2004, then two years with the NSW U16's and finally this year as a bottom age U18 in Geelong where Jon Deeble noted his pitching potential.   It was when he was in the U16 NSW team that he came into contact with pitching coach Rob McLean who has been responsible for developing so many young NSW pitchers.  Rob spent many hours working on David's action and this signing is a result of Rob's patience and David's determination to perfect his action.

Last year, following his success with the NSW U16's in Mt Gambier he gained scholarships to both the NSW Institute of Sport under Andre Desjardin who proved a hard task master and emphasised the need for regular gym work and increased fitness and also the prestigious MLB Academy .

He has dreamed of baseball as a career for as long as he could remember.  Being with Boston of all clubs is the most amazing thing that could have happened.  I watch them on TV and now to be part of them is fantastic".

DAVID HARRIOTT is managed by Australia's No.1 Player Agents BJS Player Management. Click their icon at left to visit their Web Site

Obviously we wish them every success in their professional journeys.

We may not have been made aware of these signings but for the vigilance of Stuart Hanrahan, the GM of RISING STARS SPORTS MANAGEMENT. Here is some text transposed incomplete from their web site.

Jason Smit

Even though he is still only 16 years old Smit's career is already littered with many accolades and achievements. He has represented both his state and country in recent years and is now currently at the MLB funded baseball academy on the Gold Coast where he is receiving expert tutelage under some of the greats of Australian baseball, something the young West Australian credits for his rise to prominence. 

Michael Lennox