Geelong-Korea back for ABL23

GEELONG’S Australian Baseball League (ABL) team is returning to the national competition after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geelong-Korea, almost entirely made up of Korean players, play as the ABL’s eighth team in the competition’s structure and will return for the 2022/23 campaign.

ABL general manager Paul Gonzalez said the return of Geelong-Korea was a massive announcement for the league and the City of Greater Geelong.

“We’re really excited to have Geelong-Korea back in the fold,” Gonzalez said.

“They bring a very unique international component to the ABL, particularly when you look at the Korean baseball market, it’s probably in the top three globally.

“So to have ‘GK’ back in the league is exciting not only for the ABL but also the other teams and Geelong as well.”

Geelong mayor Peter Murrihy said he was ecstatic when the announcement was made that Geelong-Korea would be returning to the diamond in Geelong.

“We’re thrilled that the Geelong-Korea team will be returning to the Geelong Baseball Centre this summer after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“An international broadcast of the game from Geelong is expected to reach 20 million baseball fans in south-east Asia so this is a fantastic promotional opportunity for our region.”

Geelong Baseball Centre in Waurn Ponds will host the side during the 2022/23 season as it has done so since its first season in 2018/19.

Geelong-Korea will square off with ABL sides from every major city including Adelaide Giants, Auckland Tuatara, Brisbane Bandits, Canberra Cavalry, Melbourne Aces, Perth Heat and Sydney Blue Sox.

ABL23 will begin on the second weekend of November, with Geelong-Korea travelling over to Melbourne to take on the Aces.

GK’s first home series will be in Round 2 against the Adelaide Giants from November 17-20.