Manager Jon Deeble, who must cut his 45 roster down to 28 players - including a mandatory 13 pitchers - by February 24 - has two top-notch assistant coaches in former major leaguers, Graeme Lloyd and Pat Kelly, who combined for three World Series rings with the New York Yankees in the 1990s.
Mexico And 2006 Runners-Up In Opening Round
Australia will be facing Mexico, 2006 Classic runners-up Cuba and South Africa in the first round of the World Baseball Classic from March 8-12 in Mexico City. The top two in the group will advance to a second round of eliminators against two teams from the Tokyo group consisting of defending champion Japan, China, Chinese Taipei and Korea
0-3 Showing In 2006
Deeble's men hope to improve on their showing from the inaugural Classic in 2006, when they lost all three games - 10-0 to Italy, 2-0 to Venezuela and 6-4 against the Dominican Republic.
Aussies In MLB
There are eight Australians who played in the Major League Baseball in 2008, including Grant Balfour, who was a force out of the bullpen for World Series finalists Tampa Bay Rays. The others are outfielder Justin Huber (Padres), pitchers Ryan Rowland-Smith (Mariners), Rich Thompson (Angels), Phil Stockman and Peter Moylan (Braves), shortstop Brad Harman and outfielder Chris Snelling (Phillies). Deeble will not have Moylan, who underwent elbow surgery and will not be ready.
Minor League Talent
There were about a dozen Australians at the Triple-A or Double-A levels last year, led by Phillies catcher Joel Naughton, and pitcher Travis Blackley and outfielder Trent Oeltjen from the Diamondbacks.
Australia's 24-Man Roster
Name, Bats/Throws, Height, Weight, Birth Date
PITCHERS
Craig Anderson, L/L, 6'3" (191cm), 185lbs (84kg), 10/30/1980
Travis Blackley, L/L, 6'3" (191cm), 200lbs (91kg), 11/04/1982
Adam Bright, L/L, 5'11" (180cm), 175lbs (79kg), 08/11/1984
Tristan Crawford, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 213lbs (97kg), 07/22/1982
Liam Hendriks, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 190lbs (86kg), 02/10/1989
Joshua Hill, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 225lbs (102kg), 03/27/1983
Paul Mildren, R/L, 6'1" (185cm), 195lbs (88kg), 05/03/1984
Damian Moss, R/L, 6'0" (183cm), 183lbs (83kg), 11/24/1976
Drew Naylor, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 210lbs (95kg), 05/31/1986
Chris Oxspring, L/R, 6'1" (185cm), 195lbs (88kg), 05/13/1977
Brad Thomas, L/L, 6'4" (193cm), 235lbs (107kg), 10/12/1977
Rich Thompson, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 180lbs (82kg), 07/01/1984
David Welch, R/L, 6'4" (193cm), 215lbs (98kg), 06/02/1983
Brendan Wise, L/R, 6'2" (188cm), 190lbs (86kg), 01/09/1986
CATCHERS
Andrew Graham, R/R, 6'4" (193cm), 215lbs (98kg), 04/22/1982
Joel Naughton, L/R, 6'1" (185cm), 180lbs (82kg), 08/27/1986
INFIELDERS
James Beresford, L/R, 6'1" (185cm), 155lbs (70kg), 01/19/1989
Daniel Berg, R/R, 6'0" (183cm), 200lbs (91kg), 11/21/1984
Michael Collins, R/R, 6'3" (191cm), 213lbs (97kg), 07/18/1984
Brad Harman, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 195lbs (88kg), 11/19/1985
Justin Huber, R/R, 6'2" (188cm), 205lbs (93kg), 07/01/1982
Luke Hughes, R/R, 5'11" (180cm), 200lbs (91kg), 08/02/1984
Ben Risinger, R/R, 6'1" (185cm), 170lbs (77kg), 11/25/1977
Stefan Welch, L/R, 6'3" (191cm), 175lbs (79kg), 08/12/1988
OUTFIELDERS
Mitch Dening, L/R, 6'1" (185cm), 165lbs (75kg), 08/17/1988
Trent Oeltjen, L/L, 6'1" (185cm), 190lbs (86kg), 02/28/1983
Brett Roneberg, L/L, 6'2" (188cm), 205lbs (93kg), 02/05/1979
Chris Snelling, L/L, 5'10" (178cm), 205lbs (93kg), 12/03/1981
