The Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League signed Oakland Athletics 17-year infielder Max Durrington for a three-year deal, the organization reported on September 6.
We are excited to announce that the Bandits have secured a remarkable young talent, 17-year-old Max Durrington from Surfers Paradise.
Click here to read the full announcement: https://t.co/jVKtMdWQuL pic.twitter.com/cCdcTnimg8
— Brisbane Bandits (@BrisbaneBandits) September 6, 2024
The left-handed hitter was born in Tweed Heads, Australia, and signed with the Athletics as an international free agent to a minor league contract on July 13 for $2 million. It is one of the largest signings for a first professional contract in Australian baseball history.
Athletics scout Dan Betreen was a big part in signing Durrington.
Durrington’s father, former Major League Baseball infielder Trent Durrington, played with the Anaheim Angels from 1999–2000 and 2003 and the Milwaukee Brewers from 2004-05.
The A’s have signed international free agent 2B Max Durrington. A native of Gold Coast, Australia, Max was signed by A’s scout Dan Betreen (pictured with Max below) and is the son of former Major League infielder Trent Durrington. pic.twitter.com/4se9SFrQvA
— Oakland A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) July 14, 2024
Durrington was committed to the University of Arizona before signing with Oakland.
Before signing with the Athletics, he was a part of the Surfers Paradise Baseball Club in Benowa, Queensland, Australia, in the Greater Brisbane League.
Durrington played at the A-Grade level in the GBL at 15-years-old in the 2022-23 regular season.
In the 2023-24 season, he was second on the team with a .400 batting average in 33 games, swiped 20 bases, and smacked four triples.
“Durrington is a lead-off hitter type of player that can hit for a high-average at every level he’s played, while playing multiple positions alongside great bat-to-ball skills, great speed and overall a great athlete. He can play center field and second base, giving him some versatility to play,” Betreen told baseball.com.au on July 12.
He is currently in instructional camp with the Athletics at the Arizona Complex League level during September before reporting to the Brisbane Bandits for the 2024-25 ABL regular season.
Durrington is one of three Australian-born players in the Athletics organization, along with South Australian pitcher Jack O’Loughlin and Western Australia’s BJay Cooke, who is playing in Low-A.
Several Australians, such as Liam Hendriks, Grant Balfour, Rich Thompson, Travis Blackely, Luke Hughes, and now O’Loughlin, have played for Oakland at the MLB level in the past.
Australia has had 38 players play in the MLB, and the ABL has had 71 players progress to the MLB level since the league was relaunched in 2010.
Currently, 32 Australian-born players are playing at the professional level in North America in the minor leagues with MLB organizations, the international winter leagues, independent leagues in the United States, and the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol during 2024.
The Brisbane Bandits will play their first game of the 2024-25 ABL regular season on November 15 on the road against the Perth Heat at 6 a.m. EST at Empire Ballpark in Thornlie, Australia, and will be streamed on https://plus.baseball.com.au/en-int/page/home for free.
Photo Courtesy of Brisbane Bandits X Account
