Kennelly Living it Up, Down Under

Australian native Tim Kennelly has been enjoying some serious success thus far in the 2011-2012 Australian Baseball League season. The righty hitting utility man is tearing up opposing pitching while playing for his hometown club in the second season of this current incarnation of professional baseball down under.

In the early going, the 25-year-old leads the ABL with a .529 batting average and has helped his club, the defending ABL champion Perth Heat, to a league-best 11-0 record, including an 8-0 mark on the road. Kennelly's 1.237 OPS is also tops in the league.

Kennelly has been a multi-positional player throughout his career in the minors, spending plenty of time at catcher, third base and in the outfield. Such versatility has helped Kennelly earn playing time within the Phillies organization. With the Heat, Kennelly is valuable to his team in the same manner, splitting his time at various spots.

Originally signed by the Phillies in 2003 at age 16, Kennelly has posted a .263 batting average with 18 homeruns and 210 RBI spanning 485 games played in 7 professional seasons. Kennelly had a rough season overall at the plate for Double-A level Reading in 2011, sporting a .215 average with 3 homeruns and 21 RBI in 61 games.

Recently, Kennelly filed for free agency, although he stands a good shot at rejoining the Phillies' developmental ranks for 2012, as his familiarity with the organization's hurlers and his ability to catch a crop of well-regarded pitching prospects expected to arrive at the Double-A level next season may work in his favor.

Some other players in the Aussie league with Philadelphia baseball ties include Brad Harman (who played in 6 games for the 2008 World Series champion Phillies), Mike McGuire (Philadelphia area resident, minor league free agent following 2011 season), Alan Schoenberger (played w/ Clearwater and Lakewood in 2011) and Joel Naughton (played w/ Triple A Lehigh Valley in 2011). Harman, Schoenberger and Naughton are all native Australians.

Harman has been sharp for Melbourne, posting a .423 avg. with 4 doubles, 2 HR and 7 RBI in 7 games played. The 6-foot-7-inch McGuire has been exceptional for Canberra, going 1-0 with a 0.47 ERA and 26 strike outs and 6 walks in 19 1/3 innings over 4 games, 3 of which were starts. Schoenberger has not seen game action to date for Brisbane. Naughton has batted .231 with a homer and 4 RBI in 8 games with Brisbane.

______________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE

Comments

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular ...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign. En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more. Read ahead for that interview. -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good. You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day. I would say that's the biggest difference. But I...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog