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Jack O’Loughlin was announced as Team Australia’s opening game starting pitcher at the World Baseball Classic vs South Korea.

He says the feeling of being named the Game 1 starter of the world’s biggest international baseball tournament is a complete honour.

“It was the most unreal, breathtaking, speechless feeling when I found out,” says O’Loughlin. “I just sat there without anything to say when I was told. I was super excited, but lost, if that makes sense. This is stuff you honestly dream of, I can’t believe the stars aligned. Here I am now.”

The World Baseball Classic is the sport’s equivalent of the FIFA World Cup. The best players from the best baseball countries will go head-to-head over the next two weeks.

Australia is in Japan in a group with South Korea, Japan, China and Czech Republic. The Top 2 teams advance to the quarterfinals.

South Korea is an important game for Australia.

“Korea are so internationally respected and recognised,” he says. “You can’t single out any guy on the team. You just have to take it batter-by-batter and do your best to win each battle.”

Australia opens their campaign at 2:00PM AEDT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

O’Loughlin, a Detroit Tigers prospect, is no stranger to the big game.

The South Australian was the starting pitcher in the Adelaide Giants’ Game 3 win to win the ABL Championship in February.

“I definitely didn’t think my last six months would be like this,” he says. “All of a sudden I’m starting Game 1 in the Green & Gold”

Dave Nilsson says he is excited to see what the young pitcher can do.

“It’s a big moment for him and I’ll be excited to see how he responds,” says Nilsson. “I’m excited to see how the team responds.