Aussies on Opening Day MLB Rosters 2011

So here we are. The night before Opening Day 2011.

Finally!

We started the Spring with no less than 13 Aussies involved in Spring
Training. For some, Spring was a time to really showcase their wares.
Luke Hughes and Trent Oeltjen put their best foot forward and went
close to earning a spot in the big league squads for Opening Day. For
others, Spring proved to be disappointing, and one by one the initial
13 players slowly diminished until today both Trent Oeltjen and Ryan
Rowland-Smith were confirmed as missing out.

So, that leaves four Aussie guys - all relief pitchers - who have made
it all the way to The Show for Opening Day. Peter Moylan at the
Atlanta Braves was always a reasonably safe bet for making it, and he
further cemented his position with some impressive Spring
performances. Similarly, Brad Thomas at the Detroit Tigers was
entitled to feel some job security coming into the season after a
strong 2010. Grant Balfour changed clubs this year, moving from the
Tampa Bay Rays to the Oakland Athletics, and he found it hard to find
his rhythm early in the Spring. However, he has come on well in the
last week or so, and is now in a position where he may find some
chances as the closer for the A's.

The biggest achievement this year so far goes to Sydney's Rich
Thompson, who has made the squad for the Los Angeles Angels. Thompson
has played a handful of games in the big league (35 games for the
Angels over the past 4 years) while also putting in the hard yards at
AAA. He gave up just one run in 8 innings through spring training and
is a deserved holder of a roster spot at the Angels. It could be a
really big year for Rich.

It is shaping up to be a really huge year for Aussie MLB players. Be
sure to stay tuned to Oz MLB Players for all the action.