Jackson Lowery - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Lowery is an American import from the Toronto Blue Jays organisation  who played with the Canberra cavalry during the 2016-17 ABL season. Lowery had played for the Blue Jays low, single and advanced A level affiliates in 2016 but was released in 2017, going on to play for the Kansas City T-bones in the independent American Association.

2016-17 Canberra Cavalry Jackson Lowery card front - ©2017 Adam East

Kramer Champlin - 2016-17 Brisbane Bandits

Champlin was an American import who played with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2016-17 ABL season. Champlin had played in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system between 2011 and 2014, after which he settled into playing for the Traverse City Beach Bums in the independent Frontier League since 2015.

2016-17 Brisbane Bandits Kramer Champlin card front - ©2017 Adam East

Nathan Ven Der Linden - 2016-17 Adelaide Bite

Locally born Van Der Linden returned to the Adelaide Bite roster in 2016-17 having previously had cameo appearances for the Bite in 2012-13 and 2013-14 ABL seasons.  Part of his time in between was spent playing for Skokani Olomouc in the Czech Extraliga in 2016.

I can’t help but also mention that Van der Linden was  a part of the Drop Bears (USA) team that competed in the 2016 Prague Baseball Week. The team is described on the Prague Baseball Week website as a selection of mostly USA players, however with the name Drop Bears, and with the likes of Van Der Linden and other Aussies such as Mitch Nilsson, Ryan Battaglia and Scott Mulhearn, I suspect there was quite an Aussie influence on that team.

2016-17 Adelaide Bite Nathan Van Der Linden card front - ©2017 Adam East

Merry Christmas 2017

Christmas time in Australia! Time for feasting with family and friends, hitting the pool or beach and remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, and what he has done for us. It is a shame that fewer and fewer people have an understanding of the purpose of life or the central role of Jesus Christ in that purpose.

Kyle Simon - 2017-18 Perth Heat

Simon is an American import playing with the Perth Heat during the 2017-18 ABL season. He spent 4 years combined in the minors of the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies between 2011 and 2014. Since then he has been playing independent ball in the Atlantic League, most recently with the New Britain Bees in 2017.

2017-18 Perth Heat Kyle Simon card front - ©2017 Adam East

Shane Kelleher - 2016-17 Sydney Blue Sox

Kelleher is an Aussie youngster who played for the Sydney Blue Sox in the 2016-17 ABL season. Kelleher has signed to play with the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans in 2018.

2016-17 Sydney Blue Sox Shane Kelleher card front - ©2017 Adam East

Sam Gibbons - 2016-17 Melbourne Aces

Gibbons is a Geelong born Aussie who is playing in the Minnesota Twins farm system. In 2016 Gibbons played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the single A affiliate of the Twins, his fifth season in the Minors. Gibbons stint with the Melbourne Aces during the 2016-17 ABL season was his sixth with the Aces and in the ABL.

2016-17 Melbourne Aces Sam Gibbons card front - ©2017 Adam East

David Kandilas - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Kandilas was formerly a fixture of the Sydney Blue Sox team, having spent 5 seasons with the Blue Sox before moving down to the Canberra Cavalry for the 2016-17 ABL season.

2016-17 Canberra Cavalry David Kandilas card front - ©2017 Adam East

Kevin Padlo - 2016-17 Brisbane Bandits

Padlo is an American import from the Tampa Bay Rays organisation who played with the Brisbane Bandits during the 2016-17 ABL season. Padlo had previously spent two seasons in the Colorado Rockies farm system before moving over to the Rays and playing for their single A affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2016. In 2017 Padlo has spent time in both the Rays rookie and advanced A level affiliates

2016-17 Brisbane Bandits Kevin Padlo card front - ©2017 Adam East

Mitch Dening - 2016-17 Adelaide Bite

Dening played his sixth ABL season and his second with the Adelaide Bite during the 2016-17 ABL season. Dening missed out on play during 2015-16, instead spending 2015 playing with the Yakult Swallows in Japan's NPB.

2016-17 Adelaide Bite Mitch Dening card front - ©2017 Adam East

Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Cooper-Vassalakis is a local Canberran youngster who was a part of the Canberra Cavalry development squad during the 2016-17 ABL season. Despite only being 15 years old at the time he made his ABL debut during that season, becoming the ABL's youngest ever player.

Brodie's dad was the ACT Baseball Commissioner responsible for Canberra's bid to join the revamped ABL back in 2010.

For abbreviation's sake Brodie's surname often appears to be shortened to just Vassalakis on the ABL website, however he's more than ready to follow in The Hyphen's tradition should he ever make it to the big leagues.

2016-17 Canberra Cavalry Brodie Cooper-Vassalakis card front - ©2017 Adam East

Luke Hughes - 2016-17 Perth Heat

Former MLB Player Hughes returned for his seventh  ABL season with the Perth Heat in 2016-17.

2016-17 Perth Heat Luke Hughes card front - ©2017 Adam East

Scott Kelly - 2016-17 Canberra Cavalry

Kelly was an AMerican import who played with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2016-17 ABL season. Kelly had formally spent 3 season playing with the Somerset Patriots in the independent Atlantic League to which he also returned in 2017.

2016-17 Canberra Cavalry Scott Kelly card front - ©2017 Adam East

Mitch Nilsson - 2016-17 Brisbane Bandits

Nilsson returned for his 7th ABL season with the Brisbane Bandits in 2016-17. He's also started the 2017-18 ABL season fairly hotly, hitting .577 after the first seven games.

2016-17 Brisbane Bandits Mitch Nilsson card front - ©2017 Adam East