WBSC Premier12 star Aaron Whitefield returns to MLB, witnesses Ohtani's first grand slam

WBSC Premier12 star Aaron Whitefield returns to MLB, witnesses Ohtani's first grand slam
10/05/2022
Australian Whitefield entered at right field for the Los Angeles Angels on a two-homer night by two-way Japanese phenom Ohtani. Dutch catcher Tromp amongst the minor league players of the week.

Players who've played on their country's National Team continue to make an impact on the game and showcase baseball's steady global growth.

WBSC Premier12 2019 star Aaron Whitefield is back playing Major League Baseball (MLB).

The 26-year-old outfielder entered in the seventh inning to replace the Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jack Mayfield.

Before his promotion to the big league club, Whitefield starred for the Rocket City Trash Pandas at the Double-A level, hitting 301 with three doubles a triple, five homers and 17 RBIs in 24 games. He recorded a hit in 23 of the 24 games and is in a 16-game hitting streak.

Whitefield, who started his career in sports as a softball player, has played in affiliated baseball in the US since 2015. He made his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2020.

He was the starting center fielder for the Australia National Team at the WBSC Premier12 2019 and led his country to a historic win against the US.

Whitefield's return to the show may have gone mostly unnoticed in the US. He went to bat just minutes after WBSC Premier12 2015 superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his first career grand slam.

It's been a week to remember for another Premier12 alumnus. Catcher Chadwick Tromp, the starting catcher for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the second edition of the WBSC flagship event, plays at the Triple-A level for the Atlanta Braves, He is amongst the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players of the week.