Aussie Breaks New Ground

Seattle Mariners’ Reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith, who hails from Sydney, Australia, became the only player with a hyphenated last name to ever appear on a major league 25-man roster when he was called up from Triple-A a week and a half ago. Rowland-Smith spent 4 days with the major league club before being sent back down, and did not appear in a game.

Rowland-Smith is currently 2-3 with a 5.16 ERA and a 25/16 K/BB in 22.2 IP for Triple-A Tacoma. His name will show up in baseball almanacs listing full rosters, but the Australian lefty will probably have to wait a little longer (and pitch a little better in Triple-A) to get his name up at Baseball-Reference.com.

Hat tip to Elizabeth Cage of MLB’s The Pitch and Aussie & Oceania List for the info.