“The Werribee Giants product delivered one of the most impressive debut performances Melbourne Ballpark has ever seen.”
The praise doesn’t get much higher for Werribee Giants Addison Bishop-Worn after he made his Melbourne Aces debut in the Southern Stars and Stripes Shield.
For the 19-year-old, it was a whirlwind few days after being surprised to get a call up to the Aces squad let alone debut and have such an impact.
“I’m still trying to believe it happened,” he said. “It’s crazy.
“It was really intense and I really felt like after the first game a sense of belonging.
“I’m sort of proud of myself with how competitive I was with the older guys who are much older.”
Bishop-Worn was a late call up for the second game on the shield.
He didn’t have long to prepare for what was about to happen.
“I was on the way to the field and was 20 minutes away,” he said. “[Coach Jon] Deeble gave me a call and said that I was starting.
“The nerves set in but I went to a really simple mindset and let it happen.
“I said to mum you have to be on time today but I can’t tell you why. She knew then I was in the team.”
Bishop-Worn scored three runs in the opening match including giving the Aces a late lead.
In the series finale, Bishop-Worn stepped in for his first at-bat and launched a three-run homer to right field to score his first home run and fourth run for the weekend.
The performances led to the Aces media team heaping praise on Bishop-Worn saying it was one of the most impressive debuts at the game.
“That was amazing when I read it,” he said. “I thought damn, I impressed myself.”
Bishop-Worn said the hitting a homerun in his second game was a feeling that he had never experienced before.
His first up performances left those in the Aces impressed.
“They’ve invited me back,” he said. “I didn’t expect much game time and I was just happy to play an innings of two that was it basically.”
Baseball is in the blood for Bishop-Worn.
His dad David Bishop-Worn is president of the Werribee Giants while his brother Cooper Bishop-Worn also plays for the Giants.
“It was around seven when I started at Werribee,” he said. “They have been very welcoming and a lot of the older guys have taken me under their wing and guided me through to where I am today.”
While attention is on the Giants current season, Bishop-Worn has one eye on attending college in America this year for his next big step.
“I’m figuring out what is the right school for me,” he said.
“It wasn’t until last year I was looking at college. I was a bit skeptical if I would be able to compete at that next level.
“I want to go now and continue my career.”
