The Australian Baseball League was created in 2010 and has been giving out regular-season awards for 14 seasons. The ABL also announced a Team of the Year award consisting of one player at each position on January 27.
Team of the Year
The ABL 2024-2025 Team of the Year catcher was the Canberra Cavalry catcher Robbie Perkins, the Brisbane Bandits first baseman Mike Hart, Canberra Cavalry second baseman Jason Matthews, the Melbourne Aces shortstop Jarryd Dale, and Adelaide Giants third baseman Nick Ward rounded out the infield.
Perkins was also in the running to be the ABL MVP and finished in the top three, in large part because of being the only ABL catcher not to commit an error. His bat was also strong, with six home runs, 21 RBI, and an OPS in 124 at-bats.
Dale was also one of the final three ABL MVP candidates, and he led the ABL with a .381 batting average in 126 at-bats. He also led ABL shortstops with a .978 fielding percentage.
Moreover, the three outfield spots went to Adelaide Giants left fielder Yuto Akihiro, Melbourne Aces center fielder Aaron Whitefield, and Perth Heat right fielder Ulrich Bojarski.
Former MLB first baseman Greg Bird, a member of the Melbourne Aces, was the winner at designated hitter and was a former MLB first baseman playing four seasons with them.
On the pitching front, Sydney Blue Sox left-handed starter Alexander Wells won the starting pitcher spot, and his teammate right-handed reliever Coen Wynne was named the reliever of the Team of the Year, and their manager Brook Knight was the manager of the year. Perth Heat right-handed closing pitcher Tyler Beardsley won the closer of the year.
ABL Awards
The ABL 2024-2025 awards were announced on January 25 in an ABL press release.
Congratulations to the second of our announced award winners 🏆
Read about them at https://t.co/6FcTRjQs4K pic.twitter.com/3vKBoFLp9F
— Australian Baseball League (@ABL) January 25, 2025
The Rookie of the Year went to the Sydney Sox Blue Sox outfielder Jaylin Rae, 23, a right-handed hitter. Rae had one home run, 14 RBI, eight stolen bases, a batting average of .292, and an OPS Of .701 in 113 at-bats this season.
Beardsley also won Reliever of the Year with 18.1 innings, 18 strikeouts, an ERA of 1.47, and a league-leading 10 saves.
Wells was also named Pitcher of the Year and received the Helm Award, the ABL MVP.
His season numbers were 58 innings, 58 strikeouts, and an ERA of 1.55.
Alexander Wells is your 2024/25 Helms Award Winner!!! 🏆
Read about it at https://t.co/9WRzlZbJF7 pic.twitter.com/KgCRcoCXUf
— Australian Baseball League (@ABL) January 25, 2025
Whitefield won the Hitter of the Year award and is a right-handed hitter who led the ABL with 49 hits and was third with a .348 batting average in 141 at-bats. He had five home runs, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases, and an OPS of .915.
Knight was the Manager of the Year and led the Sydney Sox to first place in his first season, with 24 regular-season wins and 16 losses.
The Defensive Player of the Year is Canberra Cavalry second baseman Jason Matthews, who made one error in 259 innings. He led all ABL second basemen and in every fielding category.
Matthews also led the second baseman with four home runs, 15 RBI, and a .292 batting average in 137 at-bats.
Broadcaster of the Year went to Eric Blanar, Phil Herden, and Craig Watts with the Adelaide Giants.
The Playing Surface of the Year goes to the Brisbane Bandits for the third straight year at Victicon Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
The Umpire of the Year is Paul Latta, who has been calling the Australian Baseball League Championship series for the last six years.
Image Courtesy of Australia Baseball League
