If I can make it, so can you: Trent Oeltjen

FORMER National Baseball League Trent Oeltjen has a simple message for all budding baseballers who want to make it big time: “If I can make it, so can you.”

Australian baseball stars Trent Oeltjen (wearing Dodgers uniform) and Ryan Rowland-Smith at the baseball camp for juniors in Castle Hill. Pictures: Julian Andrews)

FORMER National Baseball League Trent Oeltjen has a simple message for all budding baseballers who want to make it big time: “If I can make it, so can the others.”

The Glenhaven local and his close mate Ryan Rowland-Smith were back in the Hills last week, using their vast experience to nurture the next generation of Australian players to compete at the highest level.

The Australian duo’s two-day NxtGen Baseball camp at Castle Hill last week attracted dozens of promising baseballers who were provided a glimpse of what is needed to play at the highest level.

PiTrent Oeltjen and Ryan Rowland-Smith with the juniors.

“I grew up in the shire and the baseball fields were just around the corner,” Oeltjen told the Times.

“I played for the local clubs and loved the competitions.

“And if I can make it to the MBL, then so can you.

“With our NxtGen Baseball program, Ryan and I will provide the all the information and help to help open the doors (for the youngsters).”

Ryan Rowland-Smith and Trent Oeltjen.

“We show the best of the new training styles in baseball at our camps and also see what they can achieve.

“There are much more Australian baseballers now in the US than we were playing, and you have all best players in the world.

“The money in the game is all in the US where there are lots of competitions.

“We had great mentors and we are there to help and support the young players pursue their careers.

Trent Oeltjen playing for Brisbane Bandits. Picture: Sarah Marshall

“We also want to place these youngsters with the top universities in baseball.”

The former Gilroy Catholic College student turned professional at 17 years and played as an outfielder for Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB, after getting his break with Minnesota Twins in 2001.

Oeltjen, 34, was a member of the Australian silver medal team at the 2004 Athens Olympics and has played in the ABL with Sydney Blue Sox and Brisbane Bandits.

Most recently he played for Australia at the 2016 World Baseball Classic.

Newcastle-born Rowland-Smith played for Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners in the MLB and also the Sydney Blue Sox and Brisbane Bandits.