Philadelphia Phillies rookie Rixon Wingrove joins Adelaide Giants for Australian Baseball League season
Adelaide Giants have signed one of Australian baseball’s most promising US-based prospects as the SA club ramps up its off-season recruitment drive.
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A big-hitting young gun regarded as one of Australian baseball’s most promising US-based prospects has signed for Adelaide Giants.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie Rixon Wingrove was on Friday announced as the SA club’s second recruit of the Australian Baseball League off-season.
The 198cm, 118kg powerhouse had spent the past two campaigns at the Major League outfit’s Gulf Coast League affiliate, earning selection in the competition’s all-star team this year.
Newcastle native Wingrove, who also played for Sydney Blue Sox last summer, said the chance to link-up with the Giants’ youthful roster lured him to Adelaide.
“The opportunity to surround myself with a great bunch of young guys who are at the same stage of their career as me was a big reason for me wanting to come,” Wingrove, 19, said.
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“Getting to work hard on the field and pushing each other every day was a key factor.
“The facilities are second to none in Australia right now, the area (Adelaide) is amazing, as well as the coaching staff and everybody involved at the Giants.
“It all has me very excited to get the season started.”
Wingrove averaged an impressive .298 with the bat and collected 53 hits, 37 RBIs and five home runs in 48 games for GCL Phillies West in just his second Minor League season.
The Australian under-18 international teamed up with fellow Adelaide talents Curtis Mead and Mitchell Edwards within the Phillies organisation.
“Baseball is something I’ve been around my whole life, being the fourth generation in the family to play,” Wingrove said.
“I think it was something I was always going to do.
“Last year, I was thrown into the deep end in America and didn’t really know what to expect.
“I had some ups and downs throughout the 2018 season and it really opened my eyes to what I needed to come back into this year like, both mentally and physically.”
The left-handed hitter, who featured mostly as a first baseman, had also lined-up in the outfield during his career.
Giants manager Chris Adamson said Wingrove had the potential to make a positive impact.
“Rixon has a chance to be one of the best hitters in the country,” Adamson said.
“We’ll continue to work on his defensive versatility to help maximise his ability to rise through the ranks, both in Australia and the US.
“His arrival cements a young, local core and being surrounded by other like-minded Australian professionals will really help their competitive drive.”
Wingrove was the ninth player to commit to the Giants ahead of their ABL season-opener against reigning champion Brisbane Bandits on November 21.
He joined pitcher Jason Lott, who last week signed for the club, previously known as Adelaide Bite.
Giants roster: Aaron Whitefield (outfielder), Mikey Reynolds (shortstop), Rixon Wingrove (OF/infielder), Curtis Mead (second base), Jordan McArdle (IF), Mitchell Edwards (catcher), Markus Solbach (starting pitcher), Michael Gahan (SP), Jason Lott (pitcher).