Team Australia is back for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The country has steadily grown as a baseball power, as there a number of Australian professional ballplayers scattered across Minor League Baseball. Here’s a look at how Australia is positioned for the WBC.
Related: A Look at Team Czech Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic
Pitchers
- Timothy Atherton
- Matthew Beattie
- Liam Doolan
- Kyle Glogoski
- Joshua Guyer
- Samuel Holland
- Jon Kennedy
- Timothy Kennelly
- Steven Kent
- Daniel McGrath
- Mitchell Neunborn
- Jack O’Loughlin
- Christopher Oxspring
- Warwick Saupold
- Will Sherriff
- Joshua Tols
- Blake Townsend
- Todd Van Steensel
- Luke Wilkins
- Coen Wynne
Australia won’t have former Orioles pitcher Alex Wells on its roster, but the team from down under does have some current and former Minor Leaguers heading to Japan next month. A couple of current and former players from the Tigers organization are a part of Team Australia, including Jack O’Loughlin and Warwick Saupold. Saupold spent parts of three seasons as a reliever in Detroit. Across 106.2 career MLB innings, Saupold went 8-4 with a 4.98 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 5.9 K/9.
Other notable names include Minor Leaguers Kyle Glogoski (Reds), Will Sherriff (Diamondbacks), Blake Townsend (Mariners), and former MiLBers Daniel McGrath and Todd Van Steensel.
Position Players
- Ryan Battaglia (C)
- Ulrich Bojarski (OF)
- Jake Bowey (INF)
- Andrew Campbell (OF)
- Jarryd Dale (INF)
- Darryl George (INF)
- Robbie Glendinning (INF)
- Alex Hall (C)
- Jordan McArdle (C)
- Robert Perkins (C)
- Liam Spence (INF)
- Logan Wade (INF)
- Aaron Whitefield (OF)
- Rixon Wingrove (INF)
Team Australia’s group of position players does not include a current Major League player. However, there are some Minor League talent that will suit up for the country in March. Catcher Alex Hall (Brewers) and outfielder Aaron Whitfield (Angels) will be joined by Robbie Glendinning, a Royals minor league infielder who hit 19 home runs with Northwest Arkansas (AA) last season.
In the same pool with Japan and Korea, it won’t be easy for Team Australia make it out of Pool B.