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The Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP) is a seven-week baseball development program held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia for prospective Australian baseball players and officials.

The Academy began in 2001 with the backing of the Australian Baseball Federation, Major League Baseball and the Australian Sports Commission, with the aim of improving the quantity and quality of young Australian baseball players. The Academy has included notable MLB coaches such as Rod Carew, Pat Kelly, Graeme Lloyd, David Nilsson, Mark Hutton and Luke Prokopec. MLBAAP has been the catalyst for over 140 professional player signings, boasts 2 Major league players among its alumni (Rich Thompson and Brad Harman) and has seen many more progress through the ranks of the Australia national baseball team.

Structure

The location of the Academy is the Palm Meadows Radisson Hotel resort, which includes a world-class baseball facility. Players are split into four teams (Roos, Wombats, Koalas and Dingos) and the program is set up very much like professional rookie leagues in North America. Academic staff from several Gold Coast state schools and the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE assist with tutoring and supporting the athletes, to ensure their educational requirements are achieved. Teaching staff are chosen on their experience and empathy regarding the difficult combination of balancing elite sport with academic excellence. Education sessions are conducted Monday to Friday, with an expectation that year 11 and 12 athletes set aside at least 2 hours additional time per Saturday and Sunday for private study.

The seven-week program consists of at least one match a day against each other and other touring teams, with a break on Sunday, giving players and officials plenty of match practice. Between 60 and 80 players are given a scholarship from all states and territories of mainland Australia as well as other invitees from countries including Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Mariana Islands, New Caledonia and Czech Republic.

The current head coach is national team manager Jon Deeble, who is supported by national team coaching staff Phil Dale, Tony Harris, Pat Kelly, Graeme Lloyd and Dave Nilsson. As of 2010, there are 84 Australians playing professionally in North America.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players from Australia

References

1. 2009 Scholarships Announced. Australian Baseball Federation
2. Meers, Daniel. "US pitches in and league has lift-off". GoldCoast.com. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
3. Morriss, Grey. "NT-bred baseballer off to the 'Big Show". NTNews.com.au. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
4. Brock, Corey. "Reed on rehab trial". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
5. Castrovince, Anthony. "Tribe optimistic about Czech signing". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
6. Flintoff and Dunn

External links

• MLBAAP home page

v t e Baseball in Australia
WBSC Oceania
Governing bodies	Baseball Australia ACT New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia
National teams	Men's at the World Cup at the Summer Olympics U-19 Women's Schoolboys
National senior competitions	Current Australian Baseball League National Women's Championships Australian University Games Defunct Australian Baseball League (1989–1999) International Baseball League of Australia (1999–2002)
National junior competitions	Little League World Series in Australia Major League Baseball Australia Academy Program Schoolboys
Hosted international events	Summer Olympics 1956 2000 Asian Baseball Championship 1985 1993 1999 Intercontinental Cup 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers
Awards and honors	Claxton Shield (List of champions) Baseball Australia Hall of Fame Baseball Australia Diamond Awards
Related articles	Major League Baseball players from Australia Spalding World Tour
Champions

• Major League Baseball
• Sports organizations established in 2001
• Baseball in Australia
• Sport on the Gold Coast, Queensland