Since its relaunch in 2010, the Australian Baseball League has served as a stepping stone for 41 players who have been called up to MLB clubs following a stint with an ABL club. The below are listed in chronological order of when they debuted in the big leagues.
1. 🇦🇺 Shane Lindsay, RHP
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2011-2013
MLB Debut: Chicago White Sox, 2 September 2011 vs. Detroit Tigers (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER)
View Shane Lindsay Bio
2. 🇦🇺 Liam Hendriks, RHP ⭐ (All-Star 2019)
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2011
MLB Debut: Minnesota Twins, 6 September 2011 vs. Chicago White Sox (7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 SO, 3 BB, 3 ER, L)
View Liam Hendriks Bio
3. 🇺🇸 Brandon Barnes, OF
ABL Team: Sydney Blue Sox
Season(s): 2012
MLB Debut: Houston Astros, 7 August 2012 vs. Washington Nationals (3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Brandon Barnes Bio
4. 🇳🇱 Didi Gregorius, SS
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry
Season(s): 2011
MLB Debut: Cincinnati Reds, 4 September 2012 vs. Philadelphia Phillies (4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Didi Gregorius Bio
5. 🇺🇸 Brandon Maurer, RHP
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2011
MLB Debut: Seattle Mariners, 4 April 2013 vs. Oakland Athletics (6.0 IP, 8 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 6 ER, L)
View Brandon Maurer Bio
6. 🇩🇪 Donald Lutz, IF/OF
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry / Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2011, 2013-2020
MLB Debut: Cincinnati Reds, 29 April 2013 vs. St. Louis Cardinals (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Donald Lutz Bio
7. 🇺🇸 Brandon Bantz, C
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2011
MLB Debut: Seattle Mariners, 8 June 2013 vs. New York Yankees (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Brandon Bantz Bio
8. 🇺🇸 Cody Clark, C
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Houston Astros, 23 August 2013 vs. Toronto Blue Jays (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Cody Clark Bio
9. 🇺🇸 Kevin Kiermaier, OF 🏆 (Gold Glove – 2015, 2016, 2019)
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry
Season(s): 2012
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 30 September 2013 vs. Texas Rangers (0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Kevin Kiermaier Bio
10. 🇺🇸 Tyler Collins, OF
ABL Team: Sydney Blue Sox
Season(s): 2012
MLB Debut: Detroit Tigers, 31 March 2014 vs. Minnesota Twins (3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Tyler Collins Bio
11. 🇺🇸 James Jones, OF
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2012
MLB Debut: Seattle Mariners, 18 April 2014 vs. Miami Marlins (1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View James Jones Bio
12. 🇺🇸 John Holdzkom, RHP
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry / Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2013-14
MLB Debut: Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 September 2014 vs. St. Louis Cardinals (1.0 IP, 0 H, 3 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER)
View John Holdzkom Bio
13. 🇺🇸 Mychal Givens, IF/RHP
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2012
MLB Debut: Baltimore Orioles, 24 June 2015 vs. Boston Red Sox (1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER)
View Mychal Givens Bio
14. 🇺🇸 Rocky Gale, C
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: San Diego Padres, 6 September 2015 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Rocky Gale Bio
15. 🇺🇸 Keon Broxton, OF
ABL Team: Sydney Blue Sox
Season(s): 2014
MLB Debut: Pittsburgh Pirates, 21 September 2015 vs. Colorado Rockies (0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB)
View Keon Broxton Bio
16. 🇺🇸 Joey Rickard, OF
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2014
MLB Debut: Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 April 2016 vs. Minnesota Twins (4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB)
View Joey Rickard Bio
17. 🇰🇷 Ji-Man Choi, IF/OF
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Los Angeles Angels, 5 April 2016 vs. Chicago Cubs (0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Ji-Man Choi Bio
18. 🇺🇸 Tyler Goeddel, OF
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2014
MLB Debut: Philadelphia Phillies, 6 April 2016 vs. Cincinnati Reds (2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Tyler Goeddel Bio
19. 🇦🇺 Warwick Saupold, RHP
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2011-2018
MLB Debut: Detroit Tigers, 4 May 2016 vs. Chicago Cubs (1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 1 ER)
View Warwick Saupold Bio
20. 🇦🇺 James Beresford, IF
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2011-2017
MLB Debut: Minnesota Twins, 10 September 2016 vs. Chicago White Sox (4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View James Beresford Bio
21. 🇺🇸 Blake Smith, RHP
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2014
MLB Debut: Chicago White Sox, 10 September 2016 vs. Kansas City Royals (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER)
View Blake Smith Bio
22. 🇺🇸 Jacob May, OF
ABL Team: Sydney Blue Sox
Season(s): 2014
MLB Debut: Chicago White Sox, 4 April 2017 vs. Detroit Tigers (4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB)
View Jacob May Bio
23. 🇺🇸 Mike Ohlman, C
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays, 9 May 2017 vs. Cleveland Indians (3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Mike Ohlman Bio
24. 🇺🇸 Anthony Alford, OF
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays, 19 May 2017 vs. Baltimore Orioles (2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Anthony Alford Bio
25. 🇺🇸 Adam Engel, OF
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Chicago White Sox, 27 May 2017 vs. Detroit Tigers (0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Adam Engel Bio
26. 🇺🇸 Chris Smith, RHP
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays, 27 June 2017 vs. Baltimore Orioles (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER)
View Chris Smith Bio
27. 🇺🇸 Andrew Kittredge, RHP
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 18 July 2017 vs. Oakland Athletics (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER)
View Andrew Kittredge Bio
28. 🇺🇸 Rhys Hoskins, IF/OF
ABL Team: Sydney Blue Sox
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Philadelphia Phillies, 10 August 2017 vs. New York Mets (2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Rhys Hoskins Bio
29. 🇺🇸 Johnny Field, OF
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 14 April 2018 vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Johnny Field Bio
30. 🇻🇪 Ronald Acuña Jr., OF 🏆 (NL Rookie of the Year – 2018)
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2017
MLB Debut: Atlanta Braves, 25 April 2018 vs. Cincinnati Reds (5 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Ronald Acuna Jr. Bio
31. 🇺🇸 Brandon Dixon, IF/OF
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Cincinnati Reds, 22 May 2018 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Brandon Dixon Bio
32. 🇺🇸 Mitch Walding, IF
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Philadelphia Philies, 30 May 2018 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Mitch Walding Bio
33. 🇺🇸 Dylan Cozens, OF
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Philadelphia Philies, 1 June 2018 vs. San Francisco Giants (3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Dylan Cozens Bio
34. 🇺🇸 Justin Williams, OF
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2016
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 21 June 2018 vs. Miami Marlins (1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Justin Williams Bio
35. 🇺🇸 Nick Ciuffo, C
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2016
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 3 September 2018 vs. Toronto Blue Jays (4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Nick Ciuffo Bio
36. 🇺🇸 Jon Berti, IF/OF
ABL Team: Canberra Cavalry
Season(s): 2013
MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays, 26 September 2018 vs. Houston (3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View John Berti Bio
37. 🇯🇵 Yusei Kikuchi, LHP
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2011
MLB Debut: Seattle Mariners, 21 March 2019 vs. Oakland Athletics (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 SO, 1 BB, 1 ER)
View Yusei Kikuchi Bio
38. 🇺🇸 Mike Brosseau, IF/OF
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2018
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 23 June 2019 vs. Oakland Athletics (5 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Mike Brosseau Bio
39. 🇦🇺 Lewis Thorpe, RHP
ABL Team: Melbourne Aces
Season(s): 2012-13
MLB Debut: Minnesota Twins, 30 June 2019 vs. Chicago White Sox (5.0 IP, 5 H, 7 SO, 2 BB, 2 ER)
View Lewis Thorpe Bio
40. 🇺🇸 Traivs Demeritte, IF
ABL Team: Adelaide Bite
Season(s): 2015
MLB Debut: Detroit Tgers, 2 August 2019 vs. Texas Rangers (2 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Travis Demeritte Bio
41. 🇺🇸 Jake Fraley, OF
ABL Team: Perth Heat
Season(s): 2018
MLB Debut: Seattle Mariners, 21 August 2019 vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Jake Fraley Bio
42. 🇦🇺 Aaron Whitefield, OF
ABL Teams: Brisbane Bandits, Adelaide Giants
Season(s): 2015-2020
MLB Debut: Minnesota Twins, 25 July 2020 vs. Chicago White Sox (Pinch Runner)
View Aaron Whitefield Bio
43. 🇺🇸 Kevin Padlo, IF
ABL Team: Brisbane Bandits
Season(s): 2016
MLB Debut: Tampa Bay Rays, 6 April 2021 vs. Boston Red Sox (2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB)
View Kevin Padlo’s bio
By The Num3ers
Players by Season of MLB Debut:
2011 – 2
2012 – 2
2013 – 5
2014 – 3
2015 – 3
2016 – 6
2017 – 7
2018 – 8
2019 – 5
2020 – 1
2021 – 1
Players by ABL Team*:
Adelaide Bite (Giants) – 11
Brisbane Bandits – 10
Canberra Cavalry – 7
Melbourne Aces – 7
Perth Heat – 6
Sydney Blue Sox – 5
*Players who played for multiple ABL teams are counted for both teams – applies to Donald Lutz (CBR, BNE), John Holdzkom (CBR, ADL), Aaron Whitefield (BNE, ADL)
