Wayne Lundgren
Encyclopedia
Wayne Lundgren is an Australian minor league baseball
player. He is currently a pitcher
with the Brockton Rox
in the Can-Am League.
and debuted as a professional in 2000 with GCL Red Sox, recording 2-2 with a save and a 3.41 ERA. He then pitched in the International Baseball League of Australia
for the off-season in 2000-2001, going 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA. In 2001, he had a 4-2, 2 Sv record for the GCL Red Sox. Wayne did not pitch in 2002 due to injury, then split 2003 between the Lowell Spinners
and Augusta GreenJackets
before being released from the Red Sox organisation.
In 2004, he was then picked up as a free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals
and pitched that year for the Peoria Chiefs
(2-2, 3.94) and Palm Beach Cardinals
(0-1, 4.26). He was promoted and spent 2005 with the Swing of the Quad Cities
(1-0, 8.76) and Palm Beach (3-3, 4.15).
Lundgren debuted and pitched for the Australia national baseball team
in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. In the 5th against the Dominican Republic national baseball team
, he replaced Paul Mildren with a 5-1 deficit. He retired Ronnie Belliard
, Wily Mo Pena
and Alberto Castillo in order. After Australia made it 5-2, Lundgren opened the bottom of the 6th by hitting Willy Taveras
. Taveras stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Alfonso Soriano
. Wayne retired Albert Pujols
and continued his fine run against the MLB stars by retiring Miguel Tejada
on a fly to right. Matty Gahan relieved him in the 7th.
In 2006, Wayne moved to the Cincinnati Reds
chain and pitched for the Sarasota Reds (0-2, 7.62) and Dayton Dragons
(2-1, Sv, 2.60). After one year in Japan, he went 11-3 with a 3.28 for the Brockton Rox
of the Can-Am League, finishing 6th in the league for ERA.
Lundgren's fine pitching in the 2009 Claxton Shield earned him a spot on Australia's provisional roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
though he did not make the final cut. He is with the Rox for 2009 and as of 10 August, he is 6-5 with a 2.39 ERA.
The 2010 Claxton Shield proved to be even more successful for Lundgren as he won the tournament MVP, known as the prestigious Helms Award
, becoming first pitcher to do so since 1986. With 8 starts for the NSW Patriots, he finished the year with a 3-1 record to and tidy 3.02 ERA. This included six quality starts, in which he conceded just 3 runs over 33.1 innings while striking out 28 and walking just 3 batters.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
player. He is currently a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the Brockton Rox
Brockton Rox
The Brockton Rox were a professional baseball team based in Brockton, Massachusetts, in the United States. The Rox were a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2002 season to 2011, the Rox played their home...
in the Can-Am League.
Professional career
Lundgren was signed by Jon DeebleJon Deeble
Jon Deeble is currently the head coach of the Australia national baseball team.Deeble was a pitcher on the national team he now coaches from 1983 to 1995, a playing career which included the 1988 Olympics and an Australian Baseball League championship with the Melbourne Monarchs in 1993...
and debuted as a professional in 2000 with GCL Red Sox, recording 2-2 with a save and a 3.41 ERA. He then pitched in the International Baseball League of Australia
International Baseball League of Australia
The International Baseball League of Australia was a baseball league which existed from 1999 to 2002.The league was created by David Nilsson after he purchased the rights to the Australian Baseball League in 1999 when it was near financial collapse...
for the off-season in 2000-2001, going 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA. In 2001, he had a 4-2, 2 Sv record for the GCL Red Sox. Wayne did not pitch in 2002 due to injury, then split 2003 between the Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
and Augusta GreenJackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
before being released from the Red Sox organisation.
In 2004, he was then picked up as a free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and pitched that year for the Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
(2-2, 3.94) and Palm Beach Cardinals
Palm Beach Cardinals
The Palm Beach Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club....
(0-1, 4.26). He was promoted and spent 2005 with the Swing of the Quad Cities
Swing of the Quad Cities
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, that plays in the Midwest League...
(1-0, 8.76) and Palm Beach (3-3, 4.15).
Lundgren debuted and pitched for the Australia national baseball team
Australia national baseball team
The Australian national baseball team represents Australia in international baseball tournaments and competitions. They are ranked as the top team in Oceania, and are the Oceanian Champions, having been awarded the title in 2007 when New Zealand withdrew from the Oceania Baseball Championship. They...
in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. In the 5th against the Dominican Republic national baseball team
Dominican Republic national baseball team
The Dominican Republic national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Dominican Republic.-World Baseball Classic Roster:- Dominican Republic:Manager: 17 Felipe Alou...
, he replaced Paul Mildren with a 5-1 deficit. He retired Ronnie Belliard
Ronnie Belliard
Ronald "Ronnie" Belliard is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman of Dominican descent.-Early life:Belliard attended Central High School in Miami, Florida...
, Wily Mo Pena
Wily Mo Peña
Wily Modesto Peña is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball...
and Alberto Castillo in order. After Australia made it 5-2, Lundgren opened the bottom of the 6th by hitting Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras is a Major League Baseball center fielder.-Houston Astros:Taveras played in 10 games at the end of the Astros season, mostly as a pinch runner....
. Taveras stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
. Wayne retired Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
and continued his fine run against the MLB stars by retiring Miguel Tejada
Miguel Tejada
Miguel Odalis Tejada was a Major League Baseball infielder who has played for the San Francisco Giants, the San Diego Padres, the Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics...
on a fly to right. Matty Gahan relieved him in the 7th.
In 2006, Wayne moved to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
chain and pitched for the Sarasota Reds (0-2, 7.62) and Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
(2-1, Sv, 2.60). After one year in Japan, he went 11-3 with a 3.28 for the Brockton Rox
Brockton Rox
The Brockton Rox were a professional baseball team based in Brockton, Massachusetts, in the United States. The Rox were a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2002 season to 2011, the Rox played their home...
of the Can-Am League, finishing 6th in the league for ERA.
Lundgren's fine pitching in the 2009 Claxton Shield earned him a spot on Australia's provisional roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
though he did not make the final cut. He is with the Rox for 2009 and as of 10 August, he is 6-5 with a 2.39 ERA.
The 2010 Claxton Shield proved to be even more successful for Lundgren as he won the tournament MVP, known as the prestigious Helms Award
Helms Award
The Helms Award is an annual sporting award given to the most Outstanding Australasian Athlete.-Past winners:1919 - [Harold Clive Disher] *1920 - Ivo Whitton - golfer*1932 - [Edgar L...
, becoming first pitcher to do so since 1986. With 8 starts for the NSW Patriots, he finished the year with a 3-1 record to and tidy 3.02 ERA. This included six quality starts, in which he conceded just 3 runs over 33.1 innings while striking out 28 and walking just 3 batters.