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OTTAWA- For many, the conclusion of the World Series signifies the end of the baseball season as players and coaches, certainly north of the border, gear up for another long winter yearning for the days of spring when you can dust off your spikes and glove for another season on the baseball field.
This doesn’t hold true for all players, however as fall baseball and winter ball for some provides a continuation to the season in hopes of getting some extra work in prior to spring training.
Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON), who made a name for himself as a September call-up with the Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies farmhand Ethan Stewart (Campbell River, BC) are currently participating in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, while catchers Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) and Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, ON) along with veteran National Team player Tim Smith (Toronto, ON) are currently ‘down under’ and will spend the winter playing in the Australian Baseball League.
The Australian Baseball League, or ABL as it’s known, is becoming an attractive option for Major League teams looking to provide prospects extra work. In 2010, the ABL reached and agreement with Major League Baseball and the Australian Sports Commission to elevate the status of the league with an emphasis on raising the profile of baseball in the country.
Since then, Canadians including Marcus Knecht (Blue Jays) and Michael Crouse (Blue Jays) among others have played in the league along with other MLB affiliated pros and players from the Asian professional leagues.
The ABL season began earlier today with the Brisbane Bandits, featuring Tampa Bay Rays farmhand Maxx Tissenbaum, dropping an 8-3 decision to the Adelaide Bite. Tissenbaum, a member of the 2009 JNT, converted to catching duties prior to the 2014 season and spent the past season with Charlotte in the Florida State League where he was a mid-season All-Star.
Deglan, a first round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2010, will be suiting up for the Melbourne Aces after competing at two levels in 2014. Between Single-A Hickory and High-A Myrtle Beach, the 2010 JNT MVP, belted 16 home runs and drove-in a career high 68 runs.
For Tim Smith, a member of the 2011 Pan Am Games Gold medal winning club and the 2013 World Baseball Classic club, the opportunity to play for the ABLs Perth Heat comes after parts of two seasons spent in independent baseball with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (2013) and Québec Capitales (2014).
The Arizona Fall League annually brings together some of the top prospects in baseball and this year, two Canadians are participating in the league that began play earlier this month.
For Dalton Pompey, a member of the AFL’s Mesa Solar Sox, the 2014 season was one to remember as he began the year in the Florida State League and jumped three levels to the big leagues ending it not far from his Mississauga home at Rogers Centre as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
He’s carried his strong play from the summer into the AFL where he’s hitting .277 (13-for-47) with four doubles, a triple and two RBIs to go along with six stolen bases. His performance has earned him a spot in the Fall Stars Game that will take place on Saturday, November 1st. The game be seen live on MLB Network at 8pm ET.
Ethan Stewart has achieved mixed results through four appearances in the AFL compiling a 6.75 ERA through five and a third innings on the mound with the Scottsdale Scorpions. The Philadelphia Phillies prospect has spent the past two seasons with Clearwater in the Florida State League where he strung together a five wins through 28 games (16 starts).
For information on the Australian Baseball League and the Arizona Fall League, please visit theabl.com.au and mlb.com/mlb/events/afl
