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Editor’s Note: The ABL is the Australian Baseball League, a professional league in its second season after a long absence.
Kevin Jordan, Head Coach
Kevin Jordan (born October 9, 1969 in San Francisco, California) is a retired Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1995 to 2001. He also played a substantial part of his career with the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League from 1993 through to 1997.
In the winter of 1997, while playing in Brisbane, Jordan met his future wife who he married shortly after and obtained Australian citizenship, technically meaning he was the 7th “Australian” to play in the Major Leagues. In 1992/93, Jordan, as an import from the New York Yankees, won the ABL league MVP and Batting Champion titles. On his return to the States he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he made his ‘Show’ debut in 1995.
Complete statistics available here.
Xavier Paul, OF
Xavier Paul (born February 25, 1985, in Slidell, Louisiana) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paul was drafted in the fourth round of the June 2003 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors and was selected to the Rookie League All-Star team after hitting .307 for the Raptors.
In 2004 he was tagged by Baseball America as having the best Outfield Arm in the Dodgers system and as the Dodgers seventh-best prospect. He hit .262 for the Columbus Catfish that season. He played for the Vero Beach Dodgers in 2005 and 2006, and was ranked by Baseball America as the Best Defensive outfielder in the entire Single-A level. He began the 2009 season with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, and then on May 7, 2009, Paul was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers to replace Manny Ramirez. Paul appeared in 44 games with the Dodgers in 2010 where he hit .231. He appeared in 57 games with the Isotopes during the season, hitting .325 in 57 games.
In 2011, Paul played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Pirates, he appeared in 121 games, hitting .254 with 16 stolen bases.
Complete statistics available here.
Alessandro (Alex) Maestri, RHP from Cesena, Italy
Alessandro (Alex) Maestri, RHP
Alesssandro (Alex) Maestri (born on January 6th 1985 in Cesena, Italy) is a Right-handed pitcher formerly under contract with the Chicago Cubs. He was rated by Baseball America as the number 23 (and the best overall ‘slider’) amongst the prospects of the organization. In 2007, he played for the Peoria Chiefs (Class A). He was one of the six pitchers who entered the Italian Academy in 2003. He made his Serie A1 debut in 2005 for San Marino.
In his rookie season he pitched in the 7 game Italian Baseball Series. Internationally he has participated in the AAA European (2003) and World (2002) Championships. He has made his debut for Team Italy in 2005 in a friendly match against the Torrington Twisters (USA). He performed in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, in the 2007 European Championship in Barcelona and in the 2007 World Cup in Chinese Taipei, where he closed the game against Team USA striking out second baseman Nix on a 94 mile per hour fastball. Maestri has appeared in 13 games for the Italian National Team.
Yohei Yanagawa, RHP
Yohei Yanagawa (born on February 26, 1986 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Right-Handed pitcher with the Fukuoka Southbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League. He was drafted in the first round in the 2010 amateur draft. In 2011, he pitched to a 1.29 ERA.
Ayatsugu Yamashita, C
Ayatsugu Yamashita (born on November 16, 1992 in Hokkaido, Japan) is a Catcher with the Fukuoka Southbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League. He was drafted in the first round in the 2010 amateur draft.
Taisei Makihara, SS
Taisei Makihara (born on October 15, 1992 in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Shortstop with the Fukuoka Southbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League. He was drafted in the fifth round in the 2010 amateur draft. In 2011, he hit .271 with a .322 on-base percentage.
Keiji Nakahara, OF
Keiji Nakahara (born on July 10, 1987 in Aichi, Japan) is a Outfielder with the Fukuoka Southbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League. He was drafted in the fourth round in the 2009 amateur draft. In 2011, he hit .234 with a .364 on-base percentage and four home runs.
Kenta Imamya, SS
Kenta Imamya (born on July 15, 1991 in Oita, Japan) is a Shortstop with the Fukuoka Southbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League. He was drafted in the first round in the 2009 amateur draft. In 2011, he hit .287 with three homeruns, 29 RBIs and 26 stolen bases.
This story was not subject to the approval of the Australian Baseball League or its clubs.
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