Adelaide Giants outfielder Aaron Whitefield set to represent Australia at WBSC Premier12
Aaron Whitefield will take on world baseball’s elite as he lines up for Australia at the WBSC Premier12. But the Adelaide Giants outfielder has been cheering on his friends across the ditch in another sporting battle.
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AT least one Australian was devastated when New Zealand was dumped out of the rugby World Cup, even as he was preparing to don the green and gold.
Aaron Whitefield will represent the country of his birth against the world’s top-ranked baseball nations at the WBSC Premier12 in South Korea next week.
But the Adelaide Giants outfielder was firmly in the All Blacks camp, alongside his ex-Kiwi international softballer Dad, as New Zealand exited the union tournament on the weekend.
“I’m definitely an All Blacks supporter,” Whitefield, 23, said.
“My Dad brought me up following the All Blacks and always had me in their jerseys.
“But Australia is home and any time you put on that green and gold, it’s always a pleasure.
“I’ve got the best of both worlds.”
Whitefield will continue his family’s sporting success, when he lines up in his third major event for the national team with an Olympics berth up for grabs.
The US-based Major League affiliate had followed in the footsteps of his Auckland-born father, John, who had a stint playing top flight softball in Arizona in the 1980s.
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Whitefield’s mother, Nicole, also excelled in softball for Queensland, while his younger sister, Tamieka, is an Australian squad member in the baseball derivative.
“Both parents being really good athletes has helped a lot,” said Whitefield, who joined Adelaide club last summer.
“They made me play every sport when I was younger – softball, soccer, rugby, AFL, track – just to learn different skills.
“Having them always support me and give me little things they’ve learnt over their time is great.
“They know what I’m going through as an athlete – the highs and the lows.”
Brisbane-native Whitefield, a late starter in baseball aged 18, returned to SA this month following his fifth season with Minnesota Twins.
He progressed to the Double A ranks – the second-highest in the vast Minor League system – but faced a steep learning curve in 31 games with Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Whitefield hopes the Premier12 will help him rediscover the form which has delivered a .297 batting average and competition MVP during his four-year Australian Baseball League career.
He will be eyeing one of the two Tokyo 2020 qualifying spots available, when world No. 7 Australia opens its campaign against the third-ranked host nation in Seoul on Wednesday.
“I had an average year (in the US),” said the 193cm talent, ahead of later group clashes with Cuba (5) and Canada (10).
“But I haven’t been in baseball long, so it’s a game I’m still learning.
“To be able to play the home nation in their home country, it’s going to be an awesome feeling and I can’t wait.
“Premier12 is the best (nations), so if we can get a couple of wins under our belt hopefully it will help set us up for the Olympics.”