Mark Ettles started off playing cricket in his native Australia. But he picked up baseball and eventually continued on in college in the United States, The Wichita Eagle wrote later.
But he soon noticed his playing style and that of his American counterparts weren't the same, he told The Eagle.
"America is different from Australia," Ettles told The Eagle in 1997. "When I came here I wasn't as aggressive as the rest of the players who have been playing since they came out of the womb."
But, it turned out Ettles had enough aggressiveness to turn pro - and make the majors. Ettles made the bigs for 14 games with the Padres in 1993.
Ettles' career began in 1989, taken by the Tigers in the 33rd round of the draft out of the University of South Alabama. He is a native of Perth, Australia.
Ettles started with the Tigers at single-A Fayetteville and at short-season Niagara Falls. He went 5-2, with a 1.79 ERA between them. He then played at single-A Lakeland for 1990. He went 5-5, with a 3.31 ERA over 45 relief outings.
He then started 1991 at Lakeland, but got released in May. He soon signed with the Padres and played the rest of the year at single-A Charleston and at single-A Waterloo.
He made AA Wichita in 1992 then AAA Las Vegas to start 1993. That June in 1993, he got his call to San Diego.
Ettles' call came after he'd pitched poorly in a game at Las Vegas, The Melbourne Age wrote.
"I thought I was getting a pep talk," Ettles told The Age days later. "He (the manager) said: 'Don't worry about it: you're going to San Diego."
Ettles got into 14 games in relief. He picked up one win and a 6.50 ERA.
He returned to the minors in 1994 for an abbreviated campaign. He then saw 16 total outings in 1995 to end his minors career.
He's later credited in Taiwan in 1998 and independent Somerset in 1999 and 2000. He also played on the 2000 Australian Olympic baseball team.
- Melbourne Age, June 14, 1993: Australians make powerful pitch for success in the big league
- Wichita Eagle, July 23, 1987: For Australian Ettles, all roads lead to Wichita
Made the Majors:1,264-33.9%-X
Never Made Majors:2,466-66.1%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:522
10+ Seasons in the Minors:309
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