View source for Trent Oeltjen

{{short description|Australian baseball player (born 1983)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Trent Oeltjen
|image=IMG 9697 Trent Oeltjen.jpg
|caption=Oeltjen with the Los Angeles Dodgers
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|team=
|number=
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1983|02|28|df=yes}}
|birth_place=[[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate= 6 August
|debutyear=2009
|debutteam=Arizona Diamondbacks
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate= 28 September
|finalyear=2011
|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.220
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=5
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=11
|stat4label=[[Stolen base]]s
|stat4value=9
|teams=
* [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2009}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2011}})
|highlights=
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport|Men's baseball}}
{{Medal|Country|{{bb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Baseball at the Olympics|Olympics]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Australia national baseball team|National team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Haarlem Baseball Week]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[2016 Haarlem Baseball Week|2016 Haarlem]] | [[Australia national baseball team|National team]]}}
}}

'''Trent Carl Wayne Oeltjen''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|ɛ|n|t|_|ˈ|ʌ|l|tʃ|ɛ|n}}; born 28 February 1983) is an Australian former professional [[baseball]] [[outfielder]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. He is {{convert|6|ft|1|in|cm|abbr=on}} tall and weighs {{convert|190|lb|kg}}. In 2004, he was part of the [[Australian national baseball team]] that won a silver medal in the [[Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|baseball tournament]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]].

==Professional career==

===Minnesota Twins===
Oeltjen was signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2001. He hit at a .321/.387/.418 clip in his debut year for the [[Gulf Coast League Twins]] and was quickly promoted to the rookie-level [[Elizabethton Twins]] before the end of the season. The following year, Trent continued to excel and was promoted to the Single-A [[Quad City River Bandits]]. He continued to improve and by the end of 2003 he was batting just under .300 in 123 games for Quad City and was promoted to the [[Fort Myers Miracle]] for the 2004 season where he missed games to play for the [[Australia national baseball team]] in the [[2004 Athens Olympics]]. Oeltjen would go on to represent Australia at the [[2005 Baseball World Cup]] and [[2006 World Baseball Classic]].<ref>[http://www.baseball.com.au/?Page=16185 Trent Oeltjen profile]. ''Australian Baseball Federation''</ref>

Trent was impressing critics as he continued to rise through the ranks, batting at .300 with the Double-A affiliate [[New Britain Rock Cats]] in 2006 and was picked for the World team in the [[All-Star Futures Game|2006 All-Star Futures Game]].<ref>[http://www.baseball.com.au/?page=25079&format= Trent Oeltjen selected in World Team to play in All-Stars Futures Game]. ''Australian Baseball Federation''</ref> Following this success, he was promoted to Triple-A in 2007 for the [[Rochester Red Wings]] and although struggling in the regular season, he was perhaps the most outstanding individual player in the [[2007 Baseball World Cup]] where he hit at a 523/.580/.614 clip to lead averages, steals (7) and runs (9) and was picked in the Cup All-Star team.

===Arizona Diamondbacks===
In 2008, he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit .317/.357/.466 for the [[Tucson Sidewinders]]. His consistent performances continued when Oeltjen was with Australia for the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]] and batted 6 for 12 in the tournament. In the 2009 season he was batting over .300 and slugging .505 for the [[Reno Aces]]. He was called up to the majors on 6 August 2009, when [[Justin Upton]] was injured.<ref>[http://qld.baseball.com.au/default.asp?Page=56047 Trent Oeltjen makes his Major League debut] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714081334/http://qld.baseball.com.au/default.asp?Page=56047 |date=14 July 2012 }}, ''Baseball Queensland''. 7 August 2009.</ref>

[[File:Trent Oeltjen.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Oeltjen during his tenure with the [[Reno Aces]], Triple-A affiliates of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in {{Baseball year|2009}}]]
On 6 August {{mlby|2009}}, Oeltjen recorded his first major league hit against [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]' pitcher [[Kevin Hart (baseball)|Kevin Hart]]. Oeltjen then proceeded to steal his first major league base. He then hit his first major league home run off Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher [[Jesse Chavez]] in the top of the 8th inning, a blast over the right field wall. Oeltjen finished the game 2 for 6 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

In his third game, he hit a lead-off home run against the [[Washington Nationals]], as well as one against the [[New York Mets]] in his fourth game. Oeltjen hit his three home runs in his first 20 [[at bat]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://baseball.com.au/default.asp?Page=56160 | title=Good Day for Aussies in Major League | date=10 August 2009 | accessdate=11 August 2009 | last=Sedgman | first=Cassandra | publisher=[[Australian Baseball Federation]] | location=[[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast, QLD]] Australia}}</ref> He also came one hit shy of the [[cycle (baseball)|cycle]] in a four hit game on 11 August.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/trent-oeltjen-makes-dream-debut/ | title= Trent Oeltjen Makes Dream Debut | date=11 August 2009 | accessdate=11 August 2009 | last=Nageshwar | first=Pranesh | work=Hills Shire Times| location=[[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill, NSW]] Australia}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2009/08/12/20090812dbnotesgarland0813.html | title=Notes: Garland makes no excuses | date=12 August 2009 | accessdate=14 August 2009 | last=Haller | first=Doug | publisher=[[AZCentral]] | location=[[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix, AZ]] United States}}</ref>

On 29 August Oeltjen was optioned back to Reno for [[Chris Young (outfielder)|Chris Young]] as he had only 5 hits in his last 55 at-bats.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090829&content_id=6683796&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917164233/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090829&content_id=6683796&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 September 2009 | title= Young returns to Majors | date=29 August 2009 | accessdate=30 August 2009 | last=Singer | first=Tom | work=MLB.com }}</ref> He was recalled only 10 days later,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090908&content_id=6859862&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913102018/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090908&content_id=6859862&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 September 2009 | title= D-backs recall pair from Triple-A Reno | date=8 September 2009 | accessdate=10 September 2009 | last=Gilbert | first=Steve | work=MLB.com }}</ref> and on 10 September as a [[pinch runner]], was the winning run against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in a base-on-balls [[walk-off home run|walk-off]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090909&content_id=6880280&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913030056/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090909&content_id=6880280&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 September 2009 | title= D-backs walk off ninth over Dodgers | date=10 September 2009 | accessdate=10 September 2009 | last=Gilbert | first=Steve | work=MLB.com }}</ref>

===Milwaukee Brewers===
Oeltjen signed a minor league contract which included an invitation to spring training with the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] on 4 December 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2009-12-04-3267332569_x.htm|title=Gregg Zaun agrees to deal with Brewers|date=4 December 2009|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=4 December 2009}}</ref> In 70 games for the Triple-A [[Nashville Sounds]], Oeltjen slashed .301/.355/.496 with eight home runs, 38 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. On 1 July 2010, he exercised an out clause in his contract and was granted his release from the Brewers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/97672939.html|title = Oeltjen released; Cain promoted}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Dodgers===
On 6 July 2010, Oeltjen signed with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and was assigned to Triple-A [[Albuquerque Isotopes]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120716102746/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=OF&sid=t342&t=p_pbp&pid=469721 Trent Oeltjen – Albuquerque]</ref> He hit .347 in 49 games for the Isotopes. Oeltjen was called up to the Dodgers on 7 September.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/la-story-oeltjen-gets-another-crack-at-big-time-20100908-151fv.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=LA story: Oeltjen gets another crack at big time | date=9 September 2010}}</ref> He appeared in 14 games with the Dodgers, getting 5 hits in 23 at-bats for a .217 average. On 3 December, he was non-tendered, making him a free agent. He was re-signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract on 7 December. He was named on the roster for the [[Australian Baseball League]] franchise [[Sydney Blue Sox]] in the offseason<ref name="roster 2010-11">{{cite web | url=http://www.sydneybluesox.com.au/site/abl/sydneybluesox/downloads/Playing%20Roster%202010.pdf | title=Sydney Blue Sox Roster – Season 2010/11| publisher=Sydney Blue Sox | date=20 October 2010 | accessdate=20 October 2010}}</ref> However, he never played during the Australian summer and was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque for 2011. With the Isotopes, Oeltjen was hitting .339 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 56 games. He was called back up to the Dodgers on 9 June and remained with the club the rest of the season as a reserve outfielder. He hit .197 in 61 games with 2 home runs and stole 6 bases.

Oeltjen was [[designated for assignment]] by the Dodgers on 14 May 2012, but remained with the Isotopes, where he hit .294 in 112 games. On 6 October, Oeltjen elected free agency.

===Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim===
On November 15, 2012, Oeltjen signed a minor league contract with the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] organization.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Wagner, Angels, Rhymes, Wood|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/minor-moves-angels-rhymes.html|access-date=January 14, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=15 November 2012 |language=en}}</ref> He spent the 2013 campaign with the Triple-A [[Salt Lake Bees]], hitting .255/.345/.484 with 14 home runs, 49 RBI, and 21 stolen bases across 99 appearances.

===Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)===
On 31 March 2014, the Diamondbacks signed Oeltjen to a minor league contract. He briefly returned to the [[Reno Aces]], the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate, before being loaned to the [[Toros de Tijuana]] of the [[Mexican Baseball League]]. Oeltjen appeared in 10 games for the Toros before being returned to the Aces, where he played in 13 games before being released on 19 May.

In January 2015, while playing in [[Australian Baseball League|Australia]] for the [[Sydney Blue Sox]], he announced his retirement from professional baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150120&content_id=106971128&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t4069&sid=t4069|title=Trent Oeltjen to retire as a Blue Sox|work=abl.com|date=20 January 2015}}</ref>

===Pittsburg Diamonds===
During the summer of 2016, Oeltjen briefly joined the [[Pittsburg Diamonds]] of the [[Pacific Association]], an independent baseball league. Oeltjen appeared in only two games, going 3-for-7 (.429) with a home run.

==Australian Baseball League==
Leading up to the inaugural season of the new [[Australian Baseball League|ABL]] in 2010/11, Oeltjen was named to the [[Sydney Blue Sox]] roster and saw action in two games for the Blue Sox that year. After spending 2011 and 2012 with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]], he returned for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 ABL seasons with the Blue Sox, seeing positive returns and his role expanded each year.

Oeltjen would not return for the 2015/16 season, but signed with the defending champion [[Brisbane Bandits]] for the 2016/17 season. Oeltjen contributed a key two-run double in the Preliminary final series against the [[Adelaide Bite]]. The Bandits would go on to defend their title, defeating the [[Melbourne Aces]] in two games.

==International career==
In February 2016, Oeltjen played right field for the [[Australia national baseball team]] in the [[2017 World Baseball Classic – Qualifier 1]]. Australia defeated the Philippines and South Africa twice to advance in the tournament. He appeared in all three games, going 5-for-9 with two walks, three runs, and four RBI.

In July 2016, Oeltjen played for Australia during the [[2016 Haarlem Baseball Week]], splitting time between right field and DH. Over seven games, Oeltjen went 8-for-28 (.286) with a solo home run off of the Netherlands' [[Jim Ploeger]]. Oeltjen was named Most Popular Player in the tournament. Australia placed third overall.

Oeltjen returned to the [[World Baseball Classic]] in 2017 to compete with Australia. Australia was eliminated in the first round, losing to both Japan and Cuba. Oeltjen appeared in two games, both times as the [[designated hitter]], going 1-for-7, with three strikeouts and a walk. His lone hit was a solo home run off of Cuba's [[Vladimir García]].

==Personal==
Oeltjen completed his schooling at [[Gilroy College]], [[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill]] and graduated in 2000. He and pitcher [[Ryan Rowland-Smith]] co-founded NxtGen Baseball, a training camp for young baseball players.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=469721|br=o/oeltjtr01|fangraphs=3310|brm=oeltje001tre}} 
*[http://www.sethspeaks.net/100606.htm Twins Prospects Interview]
*[http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5959487 Oeltjen first Home run] on MLB.com

{{Australia roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Australia roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Australia roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oeltjen, Trent}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]]
[[Category:Arizona League Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in Italy]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in Mexico]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Brisbane Bandits players]]
[[Category:Elizabethton Twins players]]
[[Category:Fort Myers Miracle players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Twins players]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball outfielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Australia]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Mexican League baseball left fielders]]
[[Category:Nashville Sounds players]]
[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
[[Category:New Britain Rock Cats players]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players]]
[[Category:Reno Aces players]]
[[Category:Rochester Red Wings players]]
[[Category:Salt Lake Bees players]]
[[Category:Sydney Blue Sox players]]
[[Category:Toros de Tijuana players]]
[[Category:Tucson Sidewinders players]]
[[Category:2005 Baseball World Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2007 Baseball World Cup players]]
[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2017 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Sydney]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Unipol Bologna players]]