Oxspring signs with US team

FORMER Ipswich pitcher Chris Oxspring has fulfilled his latest baseball goal by being signed to play within the Detroit Tigers organisation.

Oxspring, who spoke about his plans in a recent QT GameOn feature, has used the Australian Baseball League (ABL) to re-ignite his international career.

Currently playing for the Sydney Blue Sox, Oxspring has been targeted by one of the leading teams in the Major Leagues.

The Tigers are coached by legendary manager Jim Leyland, who is a three-time manager of the year winner.

Leyland led the Florida Marlins to a World Series title in 1997.

He has had strong success with Detroit, taking them all the way to the World Series in 2006 where they eventually lost to the St Louis Cardinals.

Oxspring has been in outstanding form for the top-of-the-table Blue Sox this season.

The Ipswich born-and-bred baseballer boasts a 3-0 win-loss record and a miserly 0.69 ERA.

He’s struck out an ABL best 44 batters.

The righthander was well on his way to his fourth win of the season last Friday night against the Melbourne Aces. He left the mound after 6.1 innings with a lead before the home team rallied to tie the match and eventually win in extra innings.

Oxspring is no stranger to Major League Baseball after competing for the San Diego Padres in 2005.

The Ipswich product is excited to get a second Major League chance with the Tigers.

“From what I’ve heard, they’ve got a very good coaching staff. Jim Leyland is all about winning and all about getting to the World Series,” said Oxspring, 33.

“If you play well enough, then you get a chance so hopefully if I take my form from here over there and throw like I have been, then I will get my chance which is all I am after.”

Former Ipswich Musketeers player Oxspring has been invited for spring training with the Major League team.

Oxspring has been recovering over the past 18 months from a serious elbow injury. He said that it was only recently that he felt he could throw with confidence.

“About three weeks before the first game, I was pitching in Sydney and I just felt that everything was normal,” he said.

“I wasn’t thinking about it (the elbow) anymore. I didn’t wake up the next day with soreness. That was the starting point and it got better and better.

“There is still more consistency to come. I am a hard task master on myself.

“I have more goals to set and more achievements to get. Between now and the end of the season I will work hard and hopefully help to win (Sydney) a championship.”

Professional sport is often a cut-throat world and Oxspring is well aware how fortunate he is to get a second chance at “The Show”.

“Preparation is a big one,” he said.

“You always think you know what you need to do to be ready, but as time goes on you change your approach and you change your methods. Some things work and some things don’t so you keep the ones that do work.”