Melbourne Aces Withdraw From ABL

Surprising news from Down Under today. Both the Australian Baseball League and the Melbourne Aces announced the Aces will turn its back on the ABL.

In fact it is a kind of move the Savannah Bananas did. That club was part of the Great Plains League before it announced to leave the league and to stand on its own feet.

The Aces announced it will leave the Australian Baseball League to look for greener pastures.

The website of the Aces stated the following: “Beyond the ABL, we have proven our ability to compete at an elite level, with successful international matchups against KBO teams that have strengthened our reputation on the world stage.”

According to the website, the Aces will play a series of games in the Korean Ulsan KBO Fall League, which will take part in October 2025.

In February 2026, the Aces will take on a prominent KBO club with additional games to be announced soon.

The Australian Baseball League stated the following on its website: “After discussions between the ABL and the Aces, the ABL were informed by the Aces of the decision to withdraw from the competition.

Baseball Australia and the Australian Baseball League thank Brett and Shaun Ralph and the Melbourne Aces for their longstanding commitment and contribution to the game and the league.

Baseball Australia President, David Hynes AM said: “The Aces have been major contributors to baseball for a significant period. It is a lossto see them withdraw from the league. We thank the Ralph family, and everyone involved in the Aces organisation for their contribution to baseball in Australia. The Aces have achieved tremendous success both on and off the field over many years.”

The ABL will continue working with ABL teams and planning for the 2025/26 season.”

One can wonder if the league will come up with a Geelong-Korea-like team again, to get an even number of teams.