Preview

MLB Opens Season in the Land Down Under

By: Tyler Sekula

Known for its abundance of kangaroos, putting shrimp on da barbie and Hugh Jackman, Australia will soon be known for something completely different: baseball.

On March 22nd and 23rd, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will play Major League Baseball's opening series for the first time in the land down under when they face off at the famous Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia.

"The Dodgers are absolutely ecstatic to be opening the 2014 championship season in Sydney, one of the greatest cities in the world," Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten told MLB.com. "Our organization is committed to growing the game of baseball internationally and I'm eager to kick off our season in one of the most exciting and rapidly developing baseball markets on earth."

Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia
(Credit: MLB.com)

Although it might be hard to believe, this is not the first time the MLB season has started overseas.

In 2012, the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners began the season with a two-game series in Japan. While there, many players dedicated their time assisting people who were struggling to get back on their feet after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake decimated much of the surrounding areas in March of 2011, killing over 15 thousand people.

According to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, the series was "an excellent opportunity to bring the game of baseball to fans across the globe and to celebrate the many constitutions to the game by the Japanese players." Selig also stated, "the shared love of baseball between our nations will help further assist ongoing relief efforts throughout Japan."

Given the positive outcome of the series in Japan, Major League Baseball decided to try its luck in Australia, home to only seven active major leaguers.

One of these active players is Arizona Diamondback lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Rowland-Smith, 31, who was born in Sydney and raised only two hours from where the game will take place, is excited to return to his homeland and play in front of his friends and family.

"To see my friends and family pitch and in my backyard is special," Rowland-Smith said in a recent interview with MLB.com.

Rowland-Smith was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2004 but was quickly traded to the Mariners prior to the start of the season. Despite having no professional experience, Rowland-Smith was selected to Team Australia for the  2004 Summer Olympics and helped the team take home silver.

Ryan Rowland-Smith pitching for Team Australia
(Credit:TheBaseballDigest)

"Anyone who gets to represent their country it's a special thing," Rowland-Smith said. "That's more than just a team, that's a country. We won a silver medal and that's the most pride I've ever felt, and that always sticks in my mind every time I get to put that jersey on, because that was a special time for me."

In his four seasons with the Mariners, Rowland-Smith appeared in just 115 games with his last appearance coming in 2010.

In November, Rowland-Smith was given another chance in the majors when he agreed to a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks with an invite to spring training. After finding out that his new team was going to be part of a series in his home country, Rowland-Smith began to put in extra effort to make the team.

"Ever since I found out about it, I've been trying to push it out of my mind, because I've told people I'm here to try and pitch in the big leagues, so I've been concentrating on that," Rowland-Smith said.

After spending all of the spring rededicating himself to baseball, Rowland-Smith was told he would be traveling with the team for the opening series against the Dodgers.

Four years removed from the game, Rowland-Smith will make his debut for the Diamondbacks in Sydney later this month.

"I've been doing this and flying home for 13 years,"Rowland-Smith said of Sydney. "Every time I fly in, it just puts a smile on my face...it's unique, it's beautiful."

DETAILS:

WHAT:  The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks open the 2014 MLB Season
WHEN:  March 22nd (7:15p.m.) and 23rd (1:00 p.m.)
WHERE: Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Australia
TICKETS: Available for purchase online