Australia becomes the latest team to unveil their roster for the upcoming Premier12 Tournament this November. They will be led by former MLB catcher Dave Nilsson as their manager. The team placed sixth in the Super Round in the Premier12 Tournament in 2019. Here is who will be joining Australia as the competition kicks off in just a few weeks:
PITCHERS:
CATCHERS:
INFIELDERS:
OUTFIELDERS:
*-denotes MLB experience
The most notable name on the roster for Australia this Premier12 will be the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 MLB draft, Travis Bazzana. He was selected by the Cleveland Guardians out of Oregon State University. Bazzana is no stranger to the international playing field, playing with Australia during the WBSC U-18 and U-23 Baseball World Cup. In 27 games with High-A Lake County, Bazzan hit .238 in 101 at-bats, hitting three home runs and driving in 12 RBIs, and stole five bases.
The roster also includes three players with MLB experience. Pitchers Warwick Saupold and Lewis Thorpe and outfielder Aaron Whitefield will provide veteran presence and leadership for Australia. Saupold, 34, pitched with the Detroit Tigers from 2016-2018. He pitched in 82 games, posting a career 8-4 record and picking up 70 strikeouts in 106.2 innings. He most recently pitched for the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League (ABL) during the 2023-24 winter.
Lewis Thorpe is also an intriguing southpaw to watch this November. The 28-year-old was once a highly-regarded prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, making his MLB debut in 2019. Thorpe would pitch three seasons with the Twins, posting a career 3-5 record in 24 appearances and seven starts, a 5.76 ERA, throwing in 59.1 innings and striking out 47 batters. He spent 2024 with Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB), playing with the Dorados de Chihuahua. In 18 appearances and 17 starts, Thorpe collected a 1-7 record, a 5.30 ERA, striking out 80 batters in 74.2 innings of work.
Outfielder Aaron Whitefield is the final player with MLB experience on Australia’s roster. Whitefield made his debut during the 2020 shortened season with the Minnesota Twins. He only played in three games that year, going 0-1 in three games. He also was recalled by the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, where he played in five games, going 0-11 with five strikeouts. Whitefield did not play in any affiliated baseball during the 2024 season.
Australia’s quest in the Premier12 Tournament will begin on November 13. They will face the defending champions, Samurai Japan, at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, Japan. The game will start at 5 AM EST.
Photo Credit: Infielder Liam Spence #15 celebrates with teammates in the dugouts. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
