The 2022 Major League Baseball and 2022 Minor League Baseball seasons continued for another week, where many Australian players took to the field and performed well for their respective teams.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOW A
LIAM SPENCE - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS
Victorian Liam Spence made five appearances for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Chicago Cubs' Low A affiliate, playing away at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, the home of the Delmarva Shorebirds.
On April 19, in an 8-3 loss, Spence went zero for three with a second-inning walk. However, on April 20, in a 17-3 victory, he went one for three with two runs and an RBI.
In the top of the fourth inning, Spence reached first on a fielder's choice and scored shortly after on a Kevin Alcantara single. He hit a double into right field in the sixth inning and scored on a fielding error. He was walked in the eighth inning but made his way to third base before the inning was over.
In an 8-3 win on April 21, Spence went zero for two but did have two walks - in the fourth inning, and the sixth inning -, a run and an RBI. The sixth-inning walk saw him steal second base and score on a Kevin Alcantara single. In the seventh inning, he hit a sacrifice fly to score Yeison Santana.
On April 22, the Pelicans won 5-2, with Spence going zero for three, earning a walk in the eighth inning. On April 24, in a 7-4 win, Spence went zero for three with two walks - in the first inning and the third inning.
RIXON WINGROVE - CLEARWATER THRESHERS
New South Welshman Rixon Wingrove didn't have the best start to the week when the Clearwater Threshers, the Philadelphia Phillies' Low A affiliate began its series against the Tampa Tarpons.
On April 19, in a 2-1 win, Wingrove wasn't part of the Threshers' starting lineup, but did find some game time, entering the contest at the top of the eighth inning to replace fellow first baseman Aldrem Corredor.
In the bottom of the eighth, in his first (and only) plate appearance, Wingrove, batting third, was hit by a pitch but didn't advance as the final out was recorded by the batter after.
Wingrove was in the starting lineup in the designated hitter position for the April 21 8-3 victory against the Tarpons where he went one for four at the plate, with a base on balls.
His first plate appearance at the bottom of the first inning yielded a groundout to second base to be the third out, before getting walked in the bottom of the third innings. He made his way to second base on a wild pitch, and third base on an Arturo De Freitas single, but couldn't advance the score as the final out was recorded.
Wingrove struck out swinging the next time up, but hit a lead-off double to start the bottom of the seventh inning for the Threshers, and, after back-to-back walks, was at third base. While the next two batters were sat back down, Wingrove came home to score on a bases-clearing two-out double by Wilfredo Flores. He was again struck out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
HIGH A
JARRYD DALE - FORT WAYNE TINCAPS
Victorian Jarryd Dale appeared in six games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the San Diego Padres' High A affiliate when the side travelled to Jackson Field to play the Lansing Lugnuts.
Beginning on April 19 in a 10-3 win, Dale went one for five, hitting a single into left field at the top of the ninth inning, ending up at second base at the conclusion of the dig.
On April 20, the TinCaps won 9-7 with Dale going one for four at the plate, with a run and a base on balls. He was walked in the seventh inning, and stole both second and third base, scoring on a throwing error by the Lugnuts catcher.
On April 21, in a 2-0 loss, Dale went zero for four but came back strong in the first game of an April 23 doubleheader which the TinCaps won 13-9, going one for four with two runs and an RBI.
Dale hit a two-out double to left field and scored on an Angel Solarte double two batters later before hitting another double in the next inning that scored Corey Rosier. He scored when Justin Lopez hit a double into right field. In the second game of the doubleheader, Dale went zero for three.
On April 24, in a 13-5 win, Dale went one for five with a run and an RBI. He was hit by a pitch in the second inning and scored when Brandon Valenzuela doubled, before hitting a double to left field himself at the top of the ninth inning that scored Robert Hassell III.
JACK O'LOUGHLIN - WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS
South Australian Jack O'Loughlin appeared in just one game for the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Detroit Tigers' High A affiliate, in its series away to the Dayton Dragons at Day Air Ballpark.
On April 21, O'Loughlin entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, replacing Whitecaps starting pitcher Dylan Smith on the mound, pitching one innings for four hits and three runs with two walks.
Despite giving up a lead-off single, he got the next two batters to groundout, and lineout, before giving up a walk, and ending the innings with a swinging strikeout.
O'Loughlin remained in the game going into the bottom of the sixth inning, however, hit the first batter with a pitched ball, and a walk to the second batter up to the plate. From there, he gave up three consecutive singles, giving up three runs in the process before being substituted out.
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DOUBLE A
AARON WHITEFIELD - ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
Queenslander Aaron Whitefield appeared in four games this week for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, in its series at Smokies Stadium against the Tennessee Smokies.
On April 19, in a 4-1 victory, Whitefield was the side's lead-off hitter, and went one for two at the plate before being substituted out in the bottom of the fifth after suffering an injury.
Leading off at the top of the first inning, Whitefield didn't need to get his eye in at all, hitting a first-pitch home run over the fence in centrefield to give the Trash Pandas the lead, which they never squandered. He struck out swinging in his second plate appearance.
Returning to the lineup for an 8-3 victory on April 22, Whitefield went one for five, his only hit for the game being a two-out double into left field at the top of the seventh inning, however, ended up going no further as the final out was recorded.
The next day, on April 23, the Trash Pandas fell 4-0 with Whitefield going one for four at the plate, laying down a bunt at the top of the third innings. He then stole second base during Livan Soto's at-bat but was caught trying to steal third base as a successful pick-off attempt by Smokies pitcher Riley Thompson saw the play made for the final out.
On April 24, the Trash Pandas won 6-4 and Whitefield went one for four at the plate but scored two runs to his name across the contest.
He hit a lead-off infield single at the top of the first inning and stole second base while Trey Cabbage was in the batter's box but couldn't advance any further as the next three batters got out in succession.
At the top of the third innings, Whitefield reached first on an error by the third baseman and scored a run when Braxton Martinez hit a long ball that cleared the centre-right field fence, to put the Trash Pandas on the scoreboard.
Whitefield was the lead-off batter at the top of the seventh inning, drawing a walk, and stole second base during Trey Cabbage's at-bat, then third on a throwing error by the Smokies' catcher. A wild pitch allowed Whitefield to cross home plate to extend the Trash Pandas' lead, and have a second run to his name for the game.
ROBBIE GLENDINNING - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS
West Australian Robbie Glendinning appeared in all six games for the Kansas City Royals' Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals across the week, getting on the scoresheet in all but one game.
On April 19, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals travelled to Riders Field to begin a series against the Frisco RoughRiders, however, the result ended up being a 4-3 loss.
Glendinning, however, was the designated hitter in this encounter, going zero for one, but earning two bases on balls, and scoring twice.
At the top of the third inning, he was hit by a pitch and two batters later, John Rave hit a two-run home run over the right-field fence that got the Naturals on the board first.
In the top of the fourth inning, Glendinning was walked and made it to second, before the inning was over. He was walked again leading off the top of the seventh inning and made it to third following a Jake Means walk, and a Rave sacrifice bunt. A Maikel Garcia single saw Glendinning score. He struck out swinging leading off the top of the ninth inning.
On April 20, the Naturals won 7-2, with Glendinning, playing first base, going two for three with three RBIs.
At the top of the second innings, he blasted a two-out home run that cleared the fence in the left-centre field to open the scoring for the game.
Glendinning was walked within the fourth inning but couldn't advance any further than second base and in the fifth inning, he continued a run of hits by Naturals batters when he hit a double into centrefield that scored Sebastian Rivero and Nathan Eaton.
On April 21, in a 12-2 loss, Glendinning went zero for two with two walks in the second innings, and in the sixth inning, stealing second base in the latter of the two instances but not advancing further.
In an 11-2 win on April 22, he went one for three as the designated hitter, scoring twice for the second time in the series.
He was walked in the second innings and advanced to second on a Logan Porter single, and third on a Maikal Garcia walk. With the bases loaded - with Glendinning at third base - and two out, Nick Loftin hit a grand slam to put the Naturals up by six runs.
At the top of the third innings, Glendinning hit a double into centrefield that saw Sebastian Rivero score on an error and two batters later, Glendinning scored himself after a Jake Means double.
On April 23, the Naturals won 12-4 and Glendinning went two for four at the plate, collecting a run and an RBI in the process.
He hit a lead-off single at the top of the second innings but didn't advance past second base, and an innings later, he hit another single which scored Nick Loftin. The next batter, John Rave, hit a double into right field which saw Glendinning score.
The final game of the series on April 24 ended in a 4-3 win to the Naturals, with Glendinning going two for four, with a run.
He hit a lead-off double into left field at the top of the sixth inning and scored when Nate Eaton hit an infield single. Glendinning also hit a lead-off single at the top of the eighth inning, but only made it to third base before the final out was recorded.
CURTIS MEAD - MONTGOMERY BISCUITS
South Australian Curtis Mead appeared in five games for the Montgomery Biscuits, the Tampa Bay Rays' Double-A affiliate, in its away series to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
On April 19, in a 5-1 victory, Mead went two for four with a run and an RBI.
He was first hit by a pitch at the top of the first innings but it was the top of the fifth innings where he got his first hit, a single into centrefield that scored Greg Jones. He hit a double at the top of the seventh inning and scored on a Grant Witherspoon.
On April 20 in a 6-4 loss, Mead went zero for two with a sacrifice fly at the top of the first inning that scored Greg Jones, however, on April 21, in a 7-0 loss, Mead also went zero for four at the plate.
In a 7-6 win on April 23, Mead went zero for five, reaching on base in the top of the third inning via a fielder's choice and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Evan Edwards and on April 24, in a 4-1 loss, he went one for four, hitting a double into centrefield in the eighth inning, getting to third base before the final out.
TRIPLE A
BLAKE TOWNSEND - TACOMA RAINIERS
Victorian Blake Townsend made his Triple-A debut for the Tacoma Rainiers, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners organisation, the highest level he's achieved, and in his only game for the week, pitched 1.2 innings, however, was credited with the loss.
On April 23, in a 4-2 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Cheney Stadium, Townsend entered the game at the top of the fifth inning, replacing the team's starting pitcher Nick Margevicius.
After a three-up, three-down innings that included two strikeouts, and a strikeout to start the sixth inning, it came a little undone for Townsend from then on.
Townsend gave up a walk, and back-to-back hits (a double and a single) to see what was a two-all score go the way of the Space Cowboys, 4-2. Townsend got the second out with his fourth strikeout of the game, before giving up another double, which forced a pitching change, ending his evening.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LIAM HENDRIKS - CHICAGO WHITE SOX
West Australian Liam Hendriks made two appearances for the Chicago White Sox in its away series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in a hit-and-miss showing for the team.
On April 23, the White Sox fell 9-2 with Hendriks entering the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, he got Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler to flyout, and groundout respectively, before a wild pitch on strike three saw Trevor Larnach reach first base. Hendriks got Miguel Sano to flyout for the final out.
On April 24, the game was tied at three-all after nine complete innings, with the Twins prevailing 6-4 after 10 innings, with Hendriks credited with the loss.
Hendriks came into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, replacing Kendall Graveman and while he got the lead-off batter, Jorge Polanco, to strikeout, he gave up back-to-back singles after that point. Fortunately, after a mound visit, Hendriks was able to claim the final two outs to send the game to extra innings.
Remaining in the game for the bottom of the 10th innings, and with the White Sox having scored a run in the top half, and therefore leading, Hendriks had an opportunity for a save.
With a runner starting on second base, lead-off Miguel Sano popped up in foul territory, caught by first baseman Yasmani Grandal. He then walked Jose Godoy and delivered a wild pitch which moved both runners into scoring positions.
Byron Buxton walked up to the plate and connected on a Hendriks pitch that sailed over the centre-left field fence for a three-run home run, which granted the win to the Twins.