David Nilsson Named 2007 MLBAAP Head Coach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               May 3, 2007

DAVID NILSSON NAMED TO HEAD THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY PROGRAM (MLBAAP)

The Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) and Major League Baseball (MLB) are pleased to announce former Major League All-Star and Queensland native, David Nilsson, has been appointed as the Head Coach for the 2007 Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP).

Nilsson, 37, who last year served as the program’s Chief Hitting instructor, will replace current Australian Olympic Team manager Jon Deeble (Boston Red Sox) in the Head Coach’s role he has held for the past four years. Deeble, who was key in the scouting of Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka for Boston, will step aside to concentrate on his duties with the Red Sox.

Nilsson said that while he has no plans to make major adjustments to the already successful program, he is looking forward to cutting his teeth in the Head Coach’s role.

“Whenever you get the opportunity to play a role in the development of young players by passing on a little of what you know, it is an extremely rewarding experience,” Nilsson said.

“I think I have a lot that I can bring to the table, and have been looking forward to this for a number of months…so really, I can’t wait for the program to get underway.”

An 8-year Major League veteran with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Nilsson was named to the 1999 National League All-Star team in a season where he hit .309 with 21 Home Runs and 62 RBI. He boasts a career.284 batting average and captained the 2004 Australian National team to a Silver Medal in the Athens Olympics - cementing his iconic status amongst the Australian baseball community.  His career has served to inspire a new generation of young players from Australia and the Pacific region to believe they too can make a career of professional baseball.

The MLBAAP is an intensive 8-week live in program designed to increase the quality and quantity of professional prospects from Australia and Oceania. Since its inception in 2001, the MLBAAP has catered to nearly 300 athletes, with almost 40% of Academy alumni securing professional contracts with Major League organisations. Entering the 2007 season, 71 Australian professional players – representing more than 75% of all Australian pros – have participated in the Academy program.

Under Nilsson’s expert guidance, the 2007 program will also draw on the expertise of Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew, former big Leaguers Pat Kelly and Luke Prokopec, as well as a host of well credentialed Australian based coaches.

Nilsson led Australia to a Silver Medal

at the 2004 Olympic Games

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