What a week for Sydney teenager Michael Lennox. It started with a phone call to Michael's agent and culminated in the Cronulla baseballer signing a professional baseball contract with the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox. In between Michael was named "Most Improved" player at the prestigious Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program and to add to that he turned 17 on Friday the day he became a professional sportsman. 'To sign a professional contract is a dream and to do it on my birthday is the best present I could ever think of' said an overwhelmed Michael.
To suggest that it all started last week though is far from the mark. Michael began playing tee-ball for local shire club Illawong when he was 4. He has represented New South Wales since he was 13 and played in the Australian U/13 team which participated in the Cal Ripken World Series in the USA in 2001. Last year an invitation to join the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) baseball program provided Michael with the quality instruction and the additional training he needed to develop his potential. According to Head NSWIS Coach Andre Dejardins, 'Michael is a hard worker who has improved his running and throwing over the past two years. Perhaps the most important improvement however came in power which was a significant factor in this contract'.
Michael's potential was recognised early on by his agent Stuart Hanrahan from Rising Stars Sports Management, but it has only been in the last 12 months that he has really attracted the attention of the Major League Baseball scouts here in Australia. His natural ability and extreme work ethic earned him a position at the Gold Coast Academy where he flourished under the tutelage of some of Australia's finest coaches. One of whom happened to be Australian National Men's Team coach and Boston Red Sox Scout Jon Deeble who was impressed with Michael's raw power. "We have been following Michael's progress since the National Championships last year and believe he has a chance to become the premier power hitter that this country has been looking for since David Nilsson left the big leagues".
Link:
http://www.risingstars.com.au/news2.htm
Link:
http://www.baseball.org.au/?page=26763
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Sox sign Australian slugger .
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