The 2014 MLB season is drawing to a close with just four teams left duelling it out for a spot in the World Series.
So it’s a good time to reflect on the fortunes of Aussie players this season.
Only two Aussie players played Major League Baseball in 2014, both as pitchers.
Grant Balfour
After an impressive 2013 with the Oakland Athletics a lot was expected of him this year with his new team the Tampa Bay Rays. Balfour’s performance turned out to be a bit underwhelming though and it didn’t take long for the Rays manager to remove him from the closer role that was his at the start of the year.
He did carry on pitching as a reliever but the struggles continued. He seemed to get into his groove again in the last few games of the season and will hopefully get back to top form next year.
Liam Hendriks
Played three for the Toronto Blue Jays and six for the Kansas City Royals, ending the season with an ERA of 5.23 for those nine games.
Hendriks started the season with the Toronto Blue Jays organisation in AAA league, he dominated there and was called up to the big leagues in May. He only started three games, two went well but the third game he gave up six earned runs in less than two innings. He was sent back down to AAA after that.
In July he was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He played in five games for them and was solid enough without being spectacular. His Royals team is one of the four sides left fighting for a spot in the World Series, and although Hendriks is not on the 25-man post-season roster he could get called up if injury hits one of the pitchers.
There are a few other Australian players out there who have gained MLB experience in recent years but could not get into a MLB team this year, too.
Josh Spence – pitcher
Last played for a Major League club in 2012 but has been playing AAA baseball since then. He started the season with the Miami Marlins oganisation and despite good performances for their AAA team he was released in May and now plays in an independent baseball league league in Texas.
Travis Blackley – pitcher
Played in almost 50 games last year for the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers but is now playing in Japan.
Peter Moylan – pitcher
Pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year but has has been out for the whole of 2014 after having elbow surgery.
It is not exactly a golden era for Austraian baseball players in the Major Leagues with only Grant Balfour getting regular playing time this year. With the Australian Baseball League growing stronger and a number of Australians in the Minor Leagues there is hope that the next generation of players will begin to make an impact at the highest level.
What’s your best bet? For great odds on all your favourite sports check out PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
It’s a pretty good time to be a Tasmanian sports fan right now. After years in the sporting wilderness with not much to celebrate,…
Olympic swimming legend and Australian Sports Commission boss Kieren Perkins has warned that "someone will die" if a multi-sport event that allows athletes to…
In 2015 when heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko, the fighter regarded by many as the ‘Greatest of all time’ in the sport,…
Join Australia's most vibrant online sports community and you have the chance to win $1000. The Roar is the perfect blend of sports reporting,…
Here is a review of our boxers who made a splash in the world rankings over the past year.
After intense debate at Roar HQ, we’ve selected the 23 most controversial moments for 2023.
