For the past five years, the Philadelphia Phillies have sent prospects to the Australian Baseball League (ABL) to play for the Adelaide Giants. That is happening once again for the 2024-25 season.
Although the actual players being sent over will not be revealed until Oct. 22, it seems to be another success for Adelaide and Philadelphia. The Giants have not missed the ABL Finals since 2019 and have won three straight championships.
The Phillies have also sent many promising prospects there in years past. This includes catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who had a 20-home run season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. He also became the top prospect in baseball shortly after his 2019-20 season in Australia.
Another example is Luke Williams. He played with Adelaide in 2021. Since then, he has been called up to the major leagues for the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia. In 2024, he got 46 at-bats with the Braves.
It also allows the Phillies to look at Australia’s local talent. A story like this comes from New South Wales native Lachlan Wells. In 2024, he pitched for the Phillies’ Double-A affiliate, the Reading Fightin Phils, and finished the season with six wins. He also had a 3.47 ERA and a WHIP of 1.04 during his 17 starts with the team.
Wells spoke with ABL TV about the opportunity to play in Philadelphia’s minor league system again.
“I just got asked if I was interested in going back over to pro ball. I replied with “yes,” and then it just took off from there really. I kept doing what I was doing in the ABL, and the Phillies had a spot for me.”
This beneficial relationship between Adelaide’s dynasty within the ABL and the Phillies stocking their farm system will continue prior to the next Australian season. No matter what players from Philadelphia’s system get sent, it seems it will greatly affect their careers.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Australian Mitchell Edwards (19) of the Phillies East at bat during the Gulf Coast League (GCL) game. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
