Trent Oeltjen named 2009 Men's Player of the Year

Trent Oeltjen has been a staple on the Australian National team for many years; and in 2010 Trent was considered the ‘spark plug’ for the Senior National Team.

In his limited, but outstanding performance at the 2009 Claxton Shield, Oeltjen produced a four-fifty-five batting average in his 22 at-bats; producing 9 runs, 10 hits, 1 homerun, and 3 RBI. His on-base percentage was an impressive .538 and he earnt a fielding percentage of .1000.

In March, Trent provided some much needed ignition at the top of the 2009 World Baseball Classic team line up.

In 3 games he secured 6 hits in his 12 at-bats; scoring 1 run; 1 RBI; and boasted an on-base percentage of .538, a slugging percentage and a batting average of .500.

Following a great season at Triple-A; during which Oeltjen was batting .300 with 27 doubles, 10 home runs, 61 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 106 games with the Reno Aces -Trent was leading the PCL with 14 triples before being promoted to the Major Leagues for the first time in his 8-year professional career.

Oeltjen recorded his first major league hit in his first Major league game on August 6, 2009, as well as his first major league home run.

Oeltjen hit his first three home-runs in only 20 at-bats. He also came one hit shy of the cycle in a four hit game. The four hits meant that he became the fifth player in the "expansion era" since 1961 to have twelve hits in the first five major league games played.

On August 29, Oeltjen was optioned back to Reno for Chris Young as only had hit 5 times in his last 55 at-bats. He was recalled only 10 days later, and on September 10 as a pinch runner, was the winning run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a base-on-balls walk-off.

This combined makes him the rightful winner of the 2009 Men’s Player of the Year award.