Chris Clare - 2018-19 Perth Heat

Clare is an American import from the Baltimore Orioles organisation who played with the Perth Heat during the 2018-19 ABL season. He was drafted by the Orioles in 2016 and by 2018 was primarily playing in their advanced A Carolina League affiliate, the Frederick Keys. In 2019 he has advanced to the double A level Bowie Baysox, as well as having a short stint with the triple A Norfolk Tides.

2018-19 Perth Heat Chris Clare card front - ©2019 Adam East

Aaron Whitefield - 2018-19 Adelaide Bite

Unfortunately, the ABL's change to a conference system during 2018-19 along with personal travel meant that there were a number of teams I didn't get photos of during the 2018-19 season. I decided that I would still make cards for players that I had taken photos of during the 2017-18 ABL season. That is the reason why we have Brisbane born Aaron Whitefield, who played with the Brisbane Bandits from 2015-16 through to 2017-18 appearing on the first of my 2018-19 Adelaide Bite cards in a Brisbane Bandits uniform. Whitefield is also advancing through the Minnesota Twins farm system, playing for the Advanced A level Fort Myers Miracle and the double A level Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 2019.

2018-19 Adelaide Bite Aaron Whitefield card front - ©2019 Adam East

Byeong Geun Kim (김병근) - 2018-19 Geelong-Korea

Kim was a member of the Geelong-Korea team that debuted in the ABL during the 2018-19 ABL season. He was previously a member of the Hanwha Eagles organisation between 2013 and 2017 but failed to break into the KBO level team after being restricted by several injuries. In 2019 he is playing for the Yangju Revolution in the Korean Independent Baseball League.

2018-19 Geelong-Korea Byeong Geun Kim card front - ©2019 Adam East

Brandon Marklund - 2018-19 Auckland Tuatara

Marklund is a Canadian import who played with the Auckland Tuatara in the 2018-19 ABL season. He had previously been studying and playing at Bryan College in Tennessee. His form must have impressed scouts as he signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals at the end of the ABL season.

2018-19 Auckland Tuatara Brandon Marklund card front - ©2019 Adam East

Dean Aldridge - 2018-19 Sydney Blue Sox

Aldridge is a Sydney local who played his second year with the Sydney Blue Sox during the 2018-19 ABL season. Aldridge had previously pitched a single inning in a game for the Blue Sox back during the 2013-14 season, so it was a long wait between ABL drinks for him. He also spent five years in the Detroit Tigers farm system, but only played in three seasons (2013, 2015 and 2017), most recently with the Connecticut Tigers in the low A level New York-Pennsylvania League,

2018-19 Sydney Blue Sox Dean Aldridge card front - ©2019 Adam East

Shota Imanaga (今永 昇太) - 2018-19 Canberra Cavalry

Imanaga is a Japanese import from the Yokohama Baystars who played with the Canberra Cavalry during the 2018-19 ABL season. Imanaga has been a fixture in the Baystars' pitching rotation since making his NPB debut in 2016 and has been a part of the Japanese national team. His time in the ABL was aimed to help bring additional exposure for a possible move to Major League Baseball. He certainly didn't do any harm to his reputation, giving up only two runs in his six starts for the Cavalry whilst recording 57 strikeouts.

So why do I have a photo of one of the hottest pitchers from the 2018-19 ABL season holding a bat? Because he unexpectedly just decided to strike a pose for me as I was taking some general photos near the dugout, and I certainly wasn't going to turn down the opportunity for a shot 😃

2018-19 Canberra Cavalry Shota Imanaga card front - ©2019 Adam East 

Dae-Sung Koo (구대성) - 2018-19 Geelong-Korea

..... aaaand, we're back!

To kickstart our hopeful return to regular posting, let's crack out one of the big names. Veteran Korean and Sydney Blue Sox player Dae-Sung Koo returned for the 2018-19 ABL season as the Manager of the expansion Geelong-Korea team. With the troubles that his inexperienced players sometimes got themselves into, he even ended up taking the mound for a single inning against the Brisbane Bandits late in the season. This was his first game as a player, three years after his last ABL game. Add to that a number of controversial threats to remove his team from the field because of umpiring disagreements and Koo was back in the ABL spotlight.

2018-19 Geelong-Korea Dae-Sung Koo card front ©2019 Adam East