Australian (Winter) Baseball League - 2022/2023

[Ro Mueller]

It appears this league will run from November 10, 2022 until January 22, 2023.

The Brewers typically send a few players to join the Brisbane Bandits (there's a Dave Nilsson connection, as he's the Bandits' President of Baseball Operations), although last season was cancelled due to Covid.

The prior winter saw C Nick Kahle, RHP Matt Hardy, RHP Paxton Schultz and RHP Michele Vassalotti sent down under, while RHP Brandon Ramey was announced but didn't play due to injury.

[Ro Mueller]

Shuckers development/assistant pitching Michael O'Neal coach joins Brisbane for the upcoming winter league: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers 2nd round selection in 2022, 20-year old SS/2B Robert Moore (.770 OPS in 125 Low-A plate appearances) will play for Brisbane: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers 9th round selection in 2019, 21-year old C Darrien Miller (.760 OPS in 381 High-A plate appearances) will also join Brisbane: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers 11th round pick in 2022, 21-year old RHP Cameron Wagoner (0.77 ERA with 16 Ks in 11 2/3 IP at Low-A) is headed to Australia for the winter: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers 11th round pick in 2017, 23-year old RHP Max Lazar (4.22 ERA with 19 Ks in 32 IP at High-A) will also enjoy the warm weather down under, where it's typically 80 degrees in Brisbane from November-January: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Press release indicates drafted, but King was an undrafted signee.

 

[markedman5]

Interview with Cameron Wagoner

 

[Jim Goulart]

This appears to complete the Brewers connection -

 

[Ro Mueller]

The Australian Baseball League season is underway, with three Brewer minor leaguers in the Opening Day lineup for Brisbane:

[Ro Mueller]

Terrific opening day for the Brisbane Bandits who clinched a 6-0 victory over Auckland:

• 2B Robert Moore: 2-for-4, 2 homers, 4 RBIs
• C Darrien Miller: 0-for-3 with a walk
• RHPs Cameron Wagoner, Brannon Jordan, James Meeker: 8 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 Ks
• RHP Max Lazar and LHP Justin King did not play

 

[Ro Mueller]

Player of the Game Robert Moore: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Love me some Bobby Moore, baby. Smooth switch-hitting stroke. I’m excited to watch his first full season! 
 

Wagoner dominancing certainly isn’t surprising given what we saw in Carolina. Nice to see Meeker and Jordan chipping in quality work as well.

 

Let’s go!

[Ro Mueller]

Not a great second game for the Bandits, who lost 13-2 to Auckland:

• 2B Robert Moore - 1-for-3, RBI (single, walk)
• C Darrien Miller - 1-for-4 (single)
• RHP Max Lazar (loss) - 2 1/3 IP, 6 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K
• LHP Justin King -  1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K

[Robocaller]

1. I wondered what kinds of crowds they get in Aussie Winter games.

2. Why is it called "Winter?"

 

[Ro Mueller]

5 hours ago, Robocaller said:

1. I wondered what kinds of crowds they get in Aussie Winter games.

2. Why is it called "Winter?"

 

It looks like they’re getting crowds of 400-1,500. They’re not calling this season “winter” (it’s just how I think of the time of year generally) - temps in Australia will actually peak in January.

[Ro Mueller]

More Moore! 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brisbane improves to 2-1 with an 11-5 defeat of Auckland:

• 2B Robert Moore - 1-4, HR, walk, 2 RBIs
• C Darrien Miller (is he catching every game?) - 1-for-4, walk, RBI

[Joseph Zarr]

Bobby has such a sweet stroke man. Butter. He's got a lotta Frelick in those hip flips. Switch-hitter to boot. I'm excited by what I continue to see.

[Ro Mueller]

The Brisbane Bandits take the season-opening series 3-1 over Auckland with a 5-2 victory:

• 2B/SS Robert Moore - 0-for-2, 2 walks
• RHP Brannon Jordan (credited with his 2nd win): 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP James Meeker (first save): 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

[Joseph Zarr]

Just a heads up to anyone interested:

Brisbane won't be playing again until 11/18 when they'll face the struggling Sydney Blue Sox.

[Jim Goulart]

Go to the 02:40 minute mark for Bob Moore

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brisbane was back in action on Friday, but fell 3-1 to Sydney despite out-hitting them 10-8:

- 2B Robert Moore - 2-for-5, SB
- C Darrien Miller - 0-for-3, walk
- LHP Justin King - 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks

Moore’s hitting a solid .333 through 5 games. Miller’s hitting just .143 and didn’t throw out either base stealer in the game, as he looks to pick up the pace.

[Ro Mueller]

Brisbane swept a doubleheader against Sydney on Saturday to improve to 5-2 on the season thus far, coming back to win the opener 5-3 and then dominating the second game 6-0. Max Lazar had a fabulous bounce-back outing after a rough first game last week Down Under, combining with Brannon Jordan and two other pitchers to strike out 16 Blue Sox:

• 2B Robert Moore - 2-for-8, RBI
• DH/C Darrien Miller - 2-for-6, double, walk, RBI, SB
• RHP Cameron Wagoner - 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks
• RHP James Meeker (save) - 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks
• RHP Max Lazar - 3 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 Ks
• RHP Brannon Jordan - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks