Australian Baseball League - 2023/2024

[Ro Mueller]

Now an annual tradition, the Brewers will once again be sending several minor league prospects Down Under to play for the Brisbane Bandits, whose season will run from November 17 to January 21 (plus playoffs, if applicable).

We can use this thread for all things Aussie Baseball-related.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Who are we thinking might participate this year?

• INF Mike Boeve? - following in Robert Moore's footsteps?
• C Matt Wood? - or did he log too many innings behind the plate this season? Could we see Blayberg Diaz or Satchell Norman in his place?
• 1B Tayden Hall, SS Eduardo Garcia or any of OFs Luis Castillo, Terence Doston, Hedbert Perez or Eduarqui Fernandez could make sense, after dealing with injuries or relatively limited playing time in 2023.
• On the mound, I'd look for the likes of LHP Brandon Knarr (if healthy), LHP Brian Fitzpatrick, RHP Jeferson Figueroa, RHP Aidan Maldonado, etc.

[Joseph Zarr]

8 hours ago, damuelle said:

Who are we thinking might participate this year?

• INF Mike Boeve? - following in Robert Moore's footsteps?
• C Matt Wood? - or did he log too many innings behind the plate this season? Could we see Blayberg Diaz or Satchell Norman in his place?
• 1B Tayden Hall, SS Eduardo Garcia or any of OFs Luis Castillo, Terence Doston, Hedbert Perez or Eduarqui Fernandez could make sense, after dealing with injuries or relatively limited playing time in 2023.
• On the mound, I'd look for the likes of LHP Brandon Knarr (if healthy), LHP Brian Fitzpatrick, RHP Jeferson Figueroa, RHP Aidan Maldonado, etc.

Last year's participants for those interested:

C Alex Hall (good bye, my sweet Prince - may your smooth lefty stroke land elsewhere and flourish) 

RHP Cameron Wagoner 

INF Robert Moore

LHP Justin King

RHP Max Lazar

RHP James Meeker

RHP Brannon Jordan

[Ro Mueller]

It looks like some key changes are afoot, with Dave Nilsson (often seen as the linchpin of the Milwaukee Brewers-Brisbane Bandits collaboration) coming to Alabama to oversee the athletic department of Briarwood Christian High School and the Bandits naming Shayne Watson as their new manager. Brewers' Development Coach Michael O'Neill will also serve as the squad's Pitching Coach. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, damuelle said:

It looks like some key changes are afoot, with Dave Nilsson (often seen as the linchpin of the Milwaukee Brewers-Brisbane Bandits collaboration) coming to Alabama to oversee the athletic department of Briarwood Christian High School and the Bandits naming Shayne Watson as their new manager. Brewers' Development Coach Michael O'Neill will also serve as the squad's Pitching Coach. 

 

That post won't begin until January of 2024, @damuelle. So, it would appear Nilsson will remain very much involved this season as he aids the transition (and potentially beyond?). I know you hyperlinked this article below but the key point is in this birdy whistle: he'll be a bench coach this fall/winter and stay as Director of Baseball Ops with Brisbane:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Lastly, a heads up:

Quote

Player profiles will be revealed from the 23rd of October in a weeklong BlueFest!!

We will start seeing the Brewers and Royals affiliated players announcements starting the middle of next week it would appear:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

10 hours ago, damuelle said:

Brewers' Development Coach Michael O'Neill will also serve as the squad's Pitching Coach. 

 

Lastly, this isn't necessarily on you @damuelle - the Bandits botched the info in their own press release.

BUT, it is actually 'Michael O'Neal'. He is no longer a 'Brewers Development Coach' in title in the org. He was a Development Coach with Wisconsin and Carolina - in 2021 and 2020, respectively. He was a generically titled 'Coach' for the Shuckers in 2022. This past 2023 season, he was the Pitching Coach for the Carolina Mudcats. It was a full circle season for O'Neal as he pitched for the Mudcats in 2016.

This will be his second assignment in 2023 - his fourth season with the Brewers organization. 

[Joseph Zarr]

[Ro Mueller]

6’7” LHP Brian Fitzpatrick joins the Brisbane Bandits for their 9-week season beginning November 17: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Let's add RHP Sam Gardner to the mix. The Timber Rattlers' key second half set-up man joins the Brisbane Bandits for their 9-week season beginning November 17:

 

[Ro Mueller]

1B Tayden Hall is ready for an unforgettable winter of Australian summer baseball: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brisbane has an exhibition game today and it looks like LHP Brian Fitzpatrick and 1B Tayden Hall are both starting: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Opening Day lineup for Brisbane against Adelaide: 

[Jim Goulart]

Looking for that first professional home run when the 2024 season starts, oddly, none yet in 265 pro at-bats.
 

 

[Ro Mueller]

On Friday, Tayden Hall played 1B and hit clean-up, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. However, Brisbane was blasted 12-1 by Adelaide. Better luck next game!

[Jim Goulart]

If the walks reduce (5.0/9), then here we go:

 

[Jim Goulart]

1B Tayden Hall through 3 games: 

3-for-9, double, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 1 CS

***

LHP Brian Fitzpatrick got the start in Brisbane's 12-1 loss Saturday night (Friday night here in the U.S.)

3 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

You'll see the 6'7" southpaw on the mound in the early moments of this video (starting at the 25-second mark):

***

Brisbane is now 0-3 and has been outscored 25-2 thus far.

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brisbane got off the schneid with a 3-1 win this morning over Adelaide.

1B Tayden Hall went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Based on their schedule, the next game will be on Thursday morning.

[Ro Mueller]

Close games for Brisbane Thursday (5-4 walk-off win) and Friday (1-0 defeat):

• 1B Tayden Hall - 2-for-7, double, walk
• RHP Sam Gardner - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks

Gardner now has an other-worldly 12 Ks in 4 innings pitched

[Jim Goulart]

Sam Gardner Appreciation Thread with new video! Click through!

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Through seven games, 1B and cleanup hitter Tayden Hall, just 20 years old, is 5-for-23 (two doubles), 3 BB, 4 K.

.217 / .333 / .304 (.637 OPS)

[Jim Goulart]

Brisbane wins their latest with a come-from-behind (five runs in the bottom of the 8th) 8-6 win.

RH reliever Sam Gardner threw a scoreless top of the 8th, maintaining his 0.00 ERA through five innings this ABL season. However, two batters managed to put a ball in play, the first ones to do so, with Gardner allowing his first hit (a single) and walking one.

Gardner also fanned two, so of the 15 outs he has recorded, 14 have been via a strikeout.

1B Tayden Hall continues to start and bat cleanup, he walked and then the LH bat had a pop-up single that fell behind third base in the critical 8th frame (the game summary indicated Hall finally had a stroke of luck). He’s now batting .231 (6-for-26) with a fine .355 OBP.

Hall put his 20-year-old legs to excellent use scoring from first base with a just-in-time slide here:

 

[Jim Goulart]

Box: Brisbane wins, 4-2

1B Tayden Hall (stats thru 29 AB's) walked and scored, but fanned in his other three AB's.

[Jim Goulart]

Box: Brisbane wins, 3-0, to move to 6-4 on the season. Their disastrous 0-3 start (outscored 25-2) is now just a memory.

1B Tayden Hall (stats thru 34 AB's) 0-for-5, one K. He remains entrenched in the cleanup spot.

It looked like the Bandits would continue to score in the 7th. Fritsch got his fourth knock of the series off Aces lefty Evan Rutckyj, followed by a Pineda walk. But when the scuffling Tayden Hall ripped the first pitch from Rutckyj back up the middle, the lefty made a see-it-to-believe-it play, catching the liner behind his back, doubling up Fritsch on second and nearly turning a triple play. Campbell flew out to end the inning.

RH reliever Sam Gardner (visit the same stat page) continues his ridiculous pace. Inheriting one runner on second base, Gardner retired all seven men he faced (groundout to end the inning he entered) and fanned four of them.

Gardner has now allowed just three baserunners over 7.1 scoreless IP (four appearances, one hit, two walks) while 18 of his 22 outs recorded have been via the strikeout.