US trio joins SA-born Philadelphia Phillies colleague Curtis Mead at Australian Baseball League club Adelaide Giants
A year at Philadelphia Phillies has Curtis Mead primed to lift Adelaide Giants to new heights this season. The local talent has also convinced a trio of mates from the Major League outfit to join him at the SA club.
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Adelaide Giants’ latest batch of US imports took little convincing to join the Australian Baseball League club.
SA-born rising star Curtis Mead had already sold the idea to Cole Stobbe, Ben Aklinski and Logan O’Hoppe, during their year together at Philadelphia Phillies.
“It was an easy decision for me,” infielder Stobbe said
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the country and the ABL from the Australians that signed with the Phillies.
“They were pretty convincing with saying how fun it is.
“Knowing the Australian guys that play in the Phillies organisation is huge.
“A lot of guys don’t get that luxury to come into a place and feel so comfortable so quick.
“I’m excited to finally be here and get the ball rolling.”
The American trio joined Mead at his hometown team this week, as Adelaide ramped up preparations for its home season-opener against champion Brisbane Bandits on November 22.
It followed the announcement of a player and staff exchange partnership with the Phillies, where Giants pair Mitch Edwards and recruit Rixon Wingrove are also affiliates.
Second baseman Mead impressed in his first full campaign stateside, racking up a .285 batting average in 44 matches in the Major League club’s Rookie ranks.
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He said the additions of 22-year-old Stobbe, outfielder Aklinski, 23, and catcher O’Hoppe, 19, would bring depth and hunger to the Giants’ roster.
“I’m pumped to be back with a few familiar faces from last year and a few guys I played with over in the US,” Mead, also 19, said
“I had a very good personal relationship with all of them before I knew they were coming here and I’ve been good mates with them for a year.
“They all know each other as well, so I’m hoping that will help us blend more as a team early in the season.
“I found it a bit tough at the start (in the US), just getting used to living away from home.
“But once I got comfortable, I loved it and it was everything I dreamt of playing baseball all day, every day.”
The new arrivals, who took the Giants’ international contingent to nine, had been joined in SA by Phillies’ clubhouse manager Tim Wilde.
They would get an early chance to showcase their talent, as Chris Adamson’s side leave for Taiwan on Thursday for back-to-back practice matches against Wei Chuan Dragons.
The reformed franchise was coached by former Adelaide hitter Chang Tai-Shan.
It was a welcome change from Nebraska-native Stobbe’s usual off-season regimen, as he escaped the harsh Omaha winter and endless indoor weight sessions.
“You try to train as much as you can, but its tough because you can’t get outside,” said Stobbe, who played in Taiwan before winning the 2015 under-18 World Cup with the US.
“Now I’m getting a whole year of summer, which I’m not complaining about.
“These (pre-season) games will be huge, because I haven’t done any live pitching or game-like activity for five or six weeks now.
“We’ve got a good vibe around the team and it’ll be good to get out there before it really counts to figure out what we’re working with and get familiar with each other.”