AAP
Major league pitcher Brad Thomas is so determined to help young Australian baseballers and see the ABL become a success that he's putting his career in America in jeopardy.
The Sydneysider became an MLB free agent after finishing a strong two-year stint with Detroit on the injured list.
Thomas would normally spend his off-season working out in an effort to impress clubs and secure a new deal.
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However, the left-handed pitcher is working with the Sydney Blue Sox with three simple aims: win the championship series, help develop Australia's next major league players and restore local baseball to the heights reached in the 1990s.
Thomas played in the former incarnation of the ABL, and won a title alongside current Oakland Athletics pitcher Grant Balfour.
The 34-year-old said that competition was essential in turning himself and Balfour into major leaguers, which is why he wants to help Australia's current crop of young stars to reach their potential.
"If there's one thing that pisses me off in life it's that - guys that have their opportunity but don't take it," Thomas told AAP.
"I'm just so sick of seeing so many talented guys not take their opportunity by the horns. You see it all the time.
"Some of these kids sign so easily today that they take things for granted and end up wasting away their opportunity.
"I can look back, and I know Grant can as well, and say I have never wasted any opportunity."
And for the young stars to continue to get opportunities, Thomas knows the ABL needs to become even stronger.
"My expectations are to hope to get it back to where it was in the old days - and better," he said.
"I think with time it will definitely build back up and it will actually be a lot better, because the opportunities the guys have now are better."
The Blue Sox are currently tied for third spot in the ladder, and face a huge five-game home series against Adelaide starting on Wednesday.
The outcome will go a long way towards determining their finals ambitions and Thomas said he's in for the long haul.
"I want to follow this through, I want to win it all," he said.
"Because I've won it before and I know how fun it is. I'll see it all the way to the end and hopefully we can win a title and promote the game a bit more in Sydney."
And as for finding a new club in America, the 34-year-old is philosophical about the outcome.
"If nothing happens, that's what's meant to be," he said.
"I've played long enough now ... if I can make a difference with some of these kids here and let them tackle their opportunities then I'm not going to be upset about it."
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