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Here is the low-down on Australia's 
30-Man Roster selected to represent us at 
the 2006 World Baseball Classic

   PLAYER

State
    Brief Profile

CRAIG ANDERSON
 
25yo - Left / Left

LHP - NSW

Well respected left-hand starting pitcher who has played so well for dominant NSW teams at the past few Claxton Shields.
He reached 'AAA' with the Seattle Mariners. Anderson represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympic games and again at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands.

TRAVIS BLACKLEY
 
23yo - Left / Left

LHP - VIC

Young Victorian left-hand pitching star who became the 18th Australian to reach the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 2004. Travis is recovered from shoulder surgery that stalled his career throughout 2005.

 PHILLIP BRASSINGTON
 
35yo - Right / Right
RHP - ACT

Veteran right-hander who was a respected "journeyman" in the Australian Baseball League and who recently played with the Australian Provincials in the 2004 Claxton Shield. He had reached 'A' ball with the Kansas City Royals before arm injuries de-railed his early professional career. Brassington later played Independent League ball in the US and he pitched for Australia's Gold Medal winning team at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup.

TOM BRICE
 
24yo - Right / Right

OF - SA

A recent star for South Australia in Claxton Shield competition. Brice has spent the last few years playing 'A' pro ball with the Chicago White Sox organisation. They experimented with him as a pitcher in 2005 but he has made a successful return to the outfield.

ADAM BRIGHT
 
21yo - Left / Left

LHP - VIC

Emerging young Victorian left-hand pitching star who has come of age recently with Australia at the 1995 World Cup and for Victoria at the 2006 Claxton Shield as a specialist lefty reliever. Currently playing 'A' level baseball with the Colorado Rockies.

ADRIAN BURNSIDE
 
28yo - Right / Left

LHP - NT

A regular Australian selection who won silver with the AROOS at the Athens Olympics and who also played at the 2005 World Cup. An experienced lefty who has been close to cracking the majors, playing 'AAA' for the Detroit Tigers and now at 'AAA' level again with the Toronto Blue Jays.

MICHAEL COLLINS
 
21yo - Right / Right

C - ACT

A recent star for the Australian Provincials in Claxton Shield competition. A young catcher who is also emerging as a pro, currently playing 'A' ball for the Los Angeles Angels.

TRENT DURRINGTON
 
30yo - Right / Right

IF - QLD

Australia's 9th major league player who has played in the big leagues with the Anaheim Angels and Milwaukee Brewers up to the 2005 season. Also a fabulous stalwart for Queensland, he is fresh from helping the Rams to win the 2006 Claxton Shield. A versatile and dynamic player who will join the Boston Red Sox this season.

GAVIN FINGLESON
 
29yo - Right / Right

IF - NSW

Highly experienced and consistent hitter who has anchored strong NSW teams to recent Claxton Shield success. A regular AROOS selection who also played Independent League baseball in the USA.

MATTHEW GAHAN
 
30yo - Right / Right

IF - QLD

Former New York Mets 'A' level professional who recently dominated the 2006 Claxton Shield competition by anchoring the Queensland team to the National Championship. He was a universal choice for the Golden Arm Award.

ANDREW GRAHAM
 
23yo - Right / Right

C - NSW

An emerging star for NSW in Claxton Shield competition who also played for Australia at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands. Graham is also progressing in 'A' ball with the Detroit Tigers.

BRADLEY HARMAN
 
20yo - Right / Right

IF - VIC

Rated one of Australia's brightest young stars as an emerging short stop with Victoria and the Philadelphia Phillies. The 2005 Helms Award winner from the Claxton Shield. Harman also played for the AROOS at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands.

JUSTIN HUBER
 
23yo - Right / Right

IF - VIC

Australia's 20th major league player who broke through with the Kansas City Royals in 2005 after originally starting as a hot-hitting catcher with the New York Mets. Huber is poised to be one of Australia's regular big league professionals.

LUKE HUGHES
 
21yo - Right / Right

IF - WA

Young West Australian infielder who has made steady progress in Claxton Shield competition and with the Minnesota Twins as an 'A' level professional. He is rated very highly.

MATHEW KENT
 
26yo - Left / Right

C - VIC

Former Seattle Mariners 'A' ball player who later played in an Independent League in the USA. Mathew Kent has forced his way into the Australian team with his terrific performances for Victoria at recent Claxton Shield tournaments.

BRENDAN KINGMAN
 
32yo - Right / Right

IF - NSW

Veteran AMLB slugger, last played Independent league baseball in the US with the Bridgeport Bluefish after originally being signed by the Florida Marlins where he reached 'A' ball. Kingman has been a fixture in recent Australian teams, including our historic silver medal winning team from the 2004 Athens Olympic games.

WAYNE LUNDGREN
 
23yo - Right / Right

RHP - NSW

Emerging young NSW pitching hope who has played 'A' ball with the Boston Red Sox and now St.Louis Cardinals. He performed superbly for the NSW Patriots at Claxton Shield 2006.

PAUL MILDREN
 
29yo - Right / Right

LHP - SA

Recent pitching stalwart for South Australia in Claxton Shield competition Mildren is now looking to progress after a few seasons in 'A' ball with the Florida Marlins. He also represented Australia at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands.

DAMIAN MOSS
 
29yo - Right / Left

RHP - NSW

Australia's 12th major leaguer who has pitched in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After recovering from arm troubles he has tried to find his way back to the majors by playing 'AAA' ball with the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners where he will start 2006. 

PETER MOYLAN
 
29yo - Right / Right

RHP - VIC

A utility player who played mostly first base for Victoria in recent Claxton Shield competitions, Moylan was so impressive closing games for the Aces at Blacktown in 2006 that he forced his way into the Australian team for this World Baseball Classic

DAVID NILSSON
  22yo - Left / Right

C - QLD

Australia's greatest ever baseballer who was a major league All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999. Has aborted several returns to pro baseball since with a variety of injury problems and last played 'AAA' ball with the Atlanta Braves early in 2004. He also captained Australia to our historic silver medal win at the 2004 Athens Olympic games.

TRENT OELTJEN
 
23yo - Right / Right

OF - NSW

Making progress as an 'A' level player with the Minnesota Twins, Oeltjen has also been a regular star for NSW in Claxton Shield competition. He represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympic games and again at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands.

BRETT RONEBERG
 
27yo - Left / Left

OF - QLD

A former ABL star and Claxton Shield Helms Award winner. Brett Roneberg has been a fixture in Australian teams, including our silver medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. His professional career has progressed from Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox but a serious shoulder injury curtailed his 2005 season. He will be back with Pittsburgh hoping to crack the major leagues in 2006.

RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
 
23yo - Left / Left

LHP - NSW

An emerging pitching star for NSW who also played for Australia's silver medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. Ryan Rowland-Smith progressed to 'AA' baseball with the Seattle Mariners organisation in 2005.

PAUL RUTGERS
 
22yo - Right / Right

IF - VIC

A terrific performer for Victoria in recent Claxton Shield competitions where he was the Batting Champion in 2005. Rutgers is highly rated as a prospect who is currently playing 'A' ball with the Minnesota Twins organisation.

JOHN STEPHENS
 
26yo - Right / Right

RHP - NSW

Australia's 16th major league pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles, who later played 'AAA' with the Boston Red Sox. Stephens pitched the gold medal game for Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. A consistent and reliable pitcher with vast experience, he hopes to return to the majors with Baltimore in 2006.

PHIL STOCKMAN
 
26yo - Right / Right

RHP - QLD

Has pitched in both 'AA' and 'AAA' baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation but has now moved on to the Atlanta Braves. The giant closer was virtually untouchable pitching for the Queensland Rams in their 2006 Claxton Shield Championship. Stockman represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympic games and again at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands.

RICHARD THOMPSON
 
21yo - Right / Right

RHP - NSW

A young NSW pitching star who has pitched in successful Claxton Shield winning teams and for Australia's silver medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. He has played pro ball with both Anaheim Angels and Minnesota Twins but he is now back and hoping to progress with the Angels in 2006.

RODNEY VAN BUIZEN
 
25yo - Right / Right

IF - NSW

A young "veteran" of Australian national teams, he won gold at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup and silver at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. Also a Helms Award winner and dual Gold Glove winner in Claxton Shield competition. Van Buizen reached 'AA' level with the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation.

GLENN WILLIAMS
 
28yo - Right / Right

IF - NSW

Another "veteran" of Australian national teams, Williams won gold at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup and silver at the 2004 Athens Olympic games. After reaching 'AAA' with the Toronto Blue Jays, Glenn finally became Australia's 19th major league player when he reached the 'show' with the Minnesota Twins in 2005.