Jaden Agassi’s debut for the German Baseball national team did not go according to plan at all. The son of tennis icon Steffi Graf experienced a day to forget.
In Arizona’s sun, Steffi Graf saw what every mother can hardly endure: her son in need. Again and again Jaden Agassi threw, the opponent always scored. And before the young pitcher got into the famous name, his debut for the German Baseball national team had a stamp nightmare.
“Jaden Agassi is a boy with a lot of potential,” said national coach Jendrick Speer after the 7: 9 defeat in the World Cup qualification against Brazil. Unfortunately, Agassis did not run the first use “as he and we hoped for it”. The second group game in Tucson/Arizona could have truly could have taken a more fatal outcome for the 23-year-old.
In the fourth inning, Agassi moved into the litter hill in front of his parents Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. Earlier than planned because a break due to a defective sprinkler system bothered the rhythm of stem pitcher Tommy Sommer. So Agassi had to go.
A big moment that has been looking forward to the media for days. But Agassi bent under the burning glass of the public. With sometimes weak throws, the American native allowed the Brazilians four points – and was replaced again before the end of the inner.
The Germans no longer recovered from the 0: 4 deficit. Due to the first defeat in the second qualification game, Germany now has to worry about the first participation in the World Baseball Classic in the coming year. In the final group game against leaders Colombia, Agassi and Co. have to secure at least third place on Wednesday night.
While the first resolved the World Cup ticket directly, the teams play out another participant in second and third place on Thursday. The chances of the decision game are not too bad, since Germany won the first group game against the continued winless Chinese with 12: 2. Agassi had not yet been used in this.
It remains to be seen whether the national coach, who had appointed him in mid -February, even after the bitter premiere in qualifying. His facilities are undoubtedly better than what he showed against Brazil. After all, the graduate of the University of Southern California and players of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers impressed last summer in the US youth league MLB Draft League.