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It was an unimpressive slate of debuts for the 2030 Hall of Fame ballot for Eurasian Professional Baseball as the best newcomer had a measly 16.7%. That opened up the field for SP Artur Woloshyn to barely cross the 66% requirement line at 68.1% on his seventh ballot. 3B Vladyslav Chychykov narrowly missed with 64.4% on his third try. SP Yuri Sabitov had a good showing at 61.5% on his fifth ballot, as did 1B Roman Stanchinsky at 58.1% on his third go. No one else was above 50%.

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Dropped after ten failed ballots was SP Nihat Akhatov, who pitched 14 years between Minsk and Krasnodar. He had a 166-121 record, 2.79 ERA, 2732.1 innings, 3071 strikeouts, 866 walks, 111 ERA+, 87 FIP-, and 52.7 WAR. Akhatov did lead in strikeouts twice, but never won Pitcher of the Year. He did notably have a 2.09 ERA in 103.1 playoff innings and won the 2002 EPB title with the Miners.

Still, Akhatov didn’t have the dominance or longevity to stand out amongst the many great pitching candidates. He peaked at 48.2% in 2024 and stayed above 40% for his first six ballots. However, Akhatov ended with only 14.8% and got banished to the Hall of Pretty Good.

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Artur Woloshyn – Starting Pitcher – Yekaterinburg Yaks – 68.1% Seventh Ballot

Artur Woloshyn was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Bratsk, Russia; a city of 224,000 people in the Irkutsk Oblast. Woloshyn boasted very good control along with above average stuff and okay movement. His velocity peaked in the 97-99 mph range with an arsenal of cutter, screwball, splitter, curveball, and changeup. The cutter was generally Woloshyn’s best pitch, although none of the five were exemplary.

Woloshyn’s stamina was pretty good and his durability was excellent. He had an excellent pickoff move, but graded as weak defensively. Woloshyn was a likeable guy in the clubhouse, but was considered a bit thick. In February 1997, his professional career began with a developmental contract with Yekaterinburg. Woloshyn spent five full year in the Yaks academy before making his debut in 2002 at age 22.

He struggled in 87.2 innings in 2002, but put it together once moved into the full-time rotation for 2003. This was a dynasty era for Yekaterinburg, who had a 10-year playoff streak from 2003-12. The Yaks won the EPB Championship in 2003, 04, 07, and 08 while taking runner-up in 2006. Woloshyn was a steady contributor for Yekaterinburg’s decade of dominance.

Woloshyn led in wins twice, but otherwise wasn’t a league leader or overly dominant. He was second in 2005’s Pitcher of the Year voting, his only time as a finalist. That had Woloshyn’s career bests for ERA (1.83), strikeouts (280), ERA+ (159), and WAR (6.4).

In the postseason, Woloshyn’s stats were merely decent for the Yaks. Over 127.2 innings, he had a 3.17 ERA, 8-7 record, 112 strikeouts, 26 walks, 98 ERA+, and 1.1 WAR. Still, you knew generally what you were going to get. In total for Yekaterinburg, Woloshyn had a 155-95 record, 2.93 ERA, 2252.1 innings, 2224 strikeouts, 341 walks, 107 ERA+, and 37.7 WAR. His #24 uniform would later get retired for his role in the dynasty.

Woloshyn became a free agent at age 31 for 2012 and opened up his search worldwide, eventually coming to the Central American Baseball Association on a two-year, $9,740,000 deal with Nicaragua. Although healthy, Woloshyn remained on the reserve roster for all of 2012. He had part-time use in 2013 for the Navigators with a 3.07 ERA over 161 innings, 133 strikeouts, and 1.4 WAR.

He stayed in CABA and moved to Mexico with Monterrey in 2014 and Torreon in 2015. Woloshyn was merely decent in both stops with a 3.06 ERA over 114.2 innings and 1.7 WAR for the Matadors, followed by a 3.88 ERA over 218 innings and 2.6 WAR with the Tomahawks. In CABA, Woloshyn had a 32-19 record, 3.43 ERA, 493.2 innings, 408 strikeouts, 113 ERA+, and 5.7 WAR.

Woloshyn returned to Russia at the veteran minimum for 2016 with St. Petersburg. He was terrible with a 4.47 ERA over 108.2 innings with -0.9 WAR for the Polar Bears. Woloshyn was a roster filler from 2017-18 for Omsk with a 2.88 ERA over 34.1 innings. He retired after the 2018 campaign at age 38.

In Eurasian Professional Baseball, Woloshyn had a 167-102 record, 3.00 ERA, 2395.1 innings, 2343 strikeouts, 369 walks, 180/271 quality starts, 104 complete games, 22 shutouts, 105 ERA+, 93 FIP-, and 36.9 WAR. Woloshyn doesn’t crack the top 100 in any stat and his WAR was well below any other Hall of Fame starters that had made it in EPB.

Even giving Woloshyn some credit for the CABA years, his resume was extremely borderline. He didn’t have the big awards, league leading stats, or big accumulations from longevity. However, Woloshyn had four championship rings and a good winning percentage. For many hardline traditionalists, these were major points in Woloshyn’s favor. Those voters put that above those who felt that the advanced metrics were underwhelming.

Woloshyn debuted at 49.3% in 2024 and hovered around 40-55% for six ballots. His opportunity came in 2030 with no debuts of note and a wide open field. Those reminiscing about the Yekaterinburg dynasty perhaps gave Woloshyn an overstated role. Still, he had an important role and that got him just across the line at 68.1% for a seventh ballot induction. Some scholars argue Woloshyn is the weakest member of EPB’s HOF, but regardless he was the lone man to make it in for 2030.

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Two players earned inductions upon their debut ballot into the Oceania Baseball Association Hall of Fame for 2030. SP Jarrod Hutchinson was nearly unanimous at 99.6% while OF Aston Abavu squeaked by the 66% threshold at 68.4%. 3B Dale Harper just missed at 62.1% on his second go, as did 1B R.W. Putnam debuting at 61.8%. Two fifth ballot guys cracked 50% with LF Samson Gould at 58.2% and SP Raj Marple at 57.5%. No players were dropped after ten failed ballots.

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Jarrod Hutchinson – Starting Pitcher – Christchurch Chinooks – 99.6% First Ballot

Jarrod Hutchinson was a 6’3’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Brisbane, Australia. Hutchinson had excellent stuff with impressive control, although his movement was average at best. His fastball sat in the 96-98 mph range and he had a great changeup to compliment it perfectly. Hutchinson also had a nice slider as a third offering.

Compared to other OBA aces, Hutchinson was merely average in terms of going deep into games. His durability in his first decade was fantastic though, so you always got plenty of innings in his prime. Hutchinson had a respectable pickoff move and was above average defender. Despite his talent, Hutchinson did frustrate many coaches and teammates over the years. He was very outspoken and often wrong, but being loud and dumb can serve you well as a pundit or politician in retirement.

While Hutchinson did get noticed by Australian scouts, he never played for one of the Australian franchises. He would still represent his country in the World Baseball Championship from 2013-23, posting a 2.73 ERA over 99 innings with a 7-7 record, 148 strikeouts, and 2.3 WAR. Australia had one division title in 2017 during Hutchinson’s tenure.

His pro career began in Fiji with a developmental deal signed as a teenager in July 2006. After around six seasons, Hutchinson debuted in 2011 at age 22 with iffy results over 146 innings. He was a mixed bag initially as he’d get a lot of strikeouts, but also allow a lot of home runs. Hutchinson gave up the most homers in the Pacific League in 2012-13 and had the most losses in 2013 at 16-23. At this point, the Freedom were fully integrated in the middle of the standings.

Hutchinson put things together in 2014, leading in wins and posting his first of eight straight seasons worth 6+ WAR. It was also his career high for strikeouts with 389, although it was not one of his eventual six seasons as a league leader. Hutchinson was third in Pitcher of the Year voting and had arrived as an ace. However, he wasn’t shy about his annoyance at Fiji’s perpetual mid-ness. The Freedom had reason to believe that Hutchinson would be leaving with free agency coming up quickly.

In February 2015, Hutchinson was traded to two-time defending Oceania Champion Christchurch for three pitching prospects, none of which amounted to much. In four seasons for Fiji, Hutchinson had a 63-55 record, 3.68 ERA, 1084.1 innings, 1191 strikeouts, 245 walks, 98 ERA+, and 16.9 WAR. He would become much more known for his run in New Zealand with the Chinooks during their Australasia League dynasty run.

Christchurch won their third straight pennant in 2015, but were denied an OBA title three-peat in a rematch with Tahiti. Hutchinson had a great regular season and led in strikeouts, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. His 2.59 ERA would be a career best. However, he earned some ire with the loudmouth struggling to a 5.49 ERA over 19.2 playoff innings. Still, Hutchinson was strong enough to get a six-year, $75,600,000 extension that winter.

Hutchinson was again second in POTY voting for 2016 and led in wins, Ks, and WHIP. His 2.83 was just behind Raj Marple’s 2.69 to deny a Triple Crown, although it was teammate Lyle Summer who took Pitcher of the Year as their closer. Christchurch tied the world record for wins in a season at 126-36 and won a fourth straight AL title.

However, the Chinooks were denied in the Oceania Championship by Guam in a seven game classic. Hutchinson was again underwhelming with a 4.50 ERA over 24 innings and three playoff starts. Christchurch earned the at-large into the Baseball Grand Championship and Hutchinson looked strong there with a 2.02 ERA over 40 innings with 58 strikeouts and 1.5 WAR. The Chinooks would finish 11-8 in a five-way tie for fifth. The Golden Eagles meanwhile took the top spot at 13-6.

Christchurch fell one game short of Brisbane in the 2017 Australasia League standings, then spent the next two years just above .500. Hutchinson did his job and was second in POTY voting for 2017. In 2020, he finally won the top honor with league bests in wins (29-7), strikeouts (363), WHIP (0.94), and WAR (9.4). Hutchinson again just missed the Triple Crown with his 2.87 ERA only three points behind Fook Mesa. Hutchinson was only the sixth in OBA history to record 29+ wins.

The Chinooks returned to the AL perch at 106-56, but lost again to Guam in the Oceania Championship. Hutchinson again stunk in the finals with a 5.74 ERA over 15.2 innings and two starts. He was second in 2021’s POTY voting and posted his career best WAR of 9.6. Christchurch repeated as Australasia League champ, but this time were thwarted by Vanuatu in the final.

Hutchinson finally had an impressive postseason in 2021 with a 1.50 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 24 innings. Still, his playoff stats certainly lower him in the all-time pitcher rankings for OBA. Hutchinson started 11 games with the Chinooks and posted a 4.10 ERA, 2-7 record, 83.1 innings, 85 strikeouts, 14 walks, 95 ERA+, and 2.3 WAR. His 79 FIP- did suggest that bad luck might have contributed to a weak ERA.

Pleased with his continued results, Christchurch gave Hutchinson a five-year, $66,500,000 extension after the 2021 season. He was set to turn 33-years old the following April and was expected to still have some more strong years. Hutchinson lost a month in 2022 to a strained hamstring. He was still a good starter, but his strikeouts were well down, falling well short of 300 Ks for the first time in a full season. Christchurch was 85-77 that year and fifth in the standings.

In late April 2023, Hutchinson suffered a ruptured disc that kept him on the shelf for a calendar year. Christchurch won another AL pennant without him, but he was still denied an OBA ring as they lost to the fledgling Port Moresby dynasty. Shoulder inflammation plagued Hutchinson for much of his 2024 return and he was lousy in his limited action with a 5.09 ERA over 63.2 innings.

The lone highlight of the season was becoming the 12th OBA ace to reach 4000 career strikeouts on July 30. Realizing his goose was cooked, Hutchinson retired that winter at age 35. Christchurch quickly retired his #71 uniform for his decade of steady service. With the Chinooks, Hutchinson had a 179-91 record, 2.98 ERA, 2343.2 innings, 2856 Ks, 346 walks, 46 complete games, 17 shutouts, 132 ERA+, 72 FIP-, and 66.4 WAR.

Hutchinson finished with a 242-146 record, 3.20 ERA, 3428 innings, 4047 strikeouts, 591 walks, 409 home runs allowed, 299/456 quality starts, 93 complete games, 23 shutouts, 119 ERA+, 79 FIP-, and 83.2 WAR. As of 2037, Hutchinson ranks 12th in wins, 29th in innings, 13th in homers allowed, 15th in strikeouts, and 20th in pitching WAR. His 10.63 K/9 ranks 27th among pitchers with 1000+ innings.

Most would rank Hutchinson just outside of the “inner-circle” tier of Hall of Fame pitchers in OBA. That said, he was a top five pitcher for most of his career and an important part of Christchurch’s decade of success. Hutchinson was a nearly unanimous inductee at 99.6% to headline the 2030 class for the Oceania Baseball Association.

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Aston “Jaws” Abavu – Left/Center Field – Guadalcanal Green Jackets – 68.4% First Ballot

Aston Abavu was a 6’5’’, 200 pound left-handed outfielder from Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands located on Guadalcanal with around 92,000 inhabitants. Abavu was famous for gap power and straight line speed, notably leading the Pacific League in triples in ten different seasons. He had an overall nice pop in his bat with a 162 game average of 29 doubles, 24 triples, and 27 home runs. Despite his speed, Abavu could be reckless on the basepaths and got caught stealing more than he succeeded.

Nearly half of Abavu’s hits were extra base hits. Although he made his hits count, Abavu was above average at best in terms of contact ability. He was decent at drawing walks but subpar at avoiding strikeouts. Abavu was far more potent facing right-handed pitching with a career .911 OPS and 156 wRC+ compared to only .723 OPS and 104 wRC+ facing lefties.

Abavu oscillated between left and center field, making about 2/3 of his starts in LF and the rest in CF. He graded as a great glove man in left and even won a Gold Glove in 2023. However, Abavu didn’t have the range for center and posted mediocre metrics there. His durability was mostly solid over a 19-year career. Because of a childhood fascination with sharks, Abavu ended up with the nickname “Jaws” throughout his career.

He quickly emerged as the top prospect to come from the Solomon Islands in some time as a teenager. Abavu grew up as a Guadalcanal fan and the Green Jackets certainly saw his potential. In the 2004 OBA Draft, Abavu was picked sixth overall by Guadalcanal out of high school. He spent 2005 in developmental and debuted in 2006 at age 19, albeit with only 21 games and 6 starts. Abavu earned the full-time job in 2007 and held it largely uninterrupted until the summer of 2024.

Abavu’s first full season was the first of seven straight years leading in triples. He had his struggles as a rookie, but was a solid starter by year two with a career and league-best 37 doubles. After the 2009 season, Guadalcanal locked up the hometown country favorite to a five-year, $18,920,000 extension. In 2010, Abavu won his first Silver Slugger in CF and was third in MVP voting. He had his career best in home runs (39), RBI (116), and runs (106).

Guadalcanal had been mostly mediocre since the 1980s. In 2010, they had a stunning franchise record season at 113-49, their first-ever 100+ win season and first Pacific League title since 1977 before Abavu was born. He had a respectable postseason going 7-24 with a .958 OPS, but the Green Jackets couldn’t dethrone Melbourne’s dynasty. The Mets also won 113 games and earned their sixth Oceania Championship in seven years.

Abavu won another Silver Slugger in 2011 despite missing a month to a strained MCL. Guadalcanal was second in the PL at 93-69. In 2012, Abavu had his finest season with his lone MVP win and his third Slugger. He led the PL and had career bests in hits (193), total bases (402), slugging (.690), OPS (1.065), wRC+ (209), and WAR (9.4).

Guadalcanal won it all in 2012, getting revenge on Melbourne in the final finals trip of their decade-long dynasty. Abavu was finals MVP in a seven-game classic with 16 hits, 5 runs, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 10 RBI, 1.516 OPS, 361 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR. The 12 hits set a finals record which still stands as of 2037.

In the Baseball Grand Championship, Guadalcanal was one of five teams to finish 12-7 atop the standings. After the tiebreakers were sorted, the Green Jackets officially placed second. In 19 starts, Abavu had 20 hits, 13 runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 9 RBI, .824 OPS, 126 wRC+, and 0.5 WAR.

Abavu led in triples and total bases in 2013 for another Slugger and a third place in MVP voting. Guadalcanal broke their franchise record from three years prior at 115-47, but was defeated by Christchurch in the Oceania Championship. Abavu was merely okay in five starts with a .728 OPS and 0.1 WAR. The Green Jackets earned the at-large for the 2013 BGC and again finished 12-7, officially taking fifth after tiebreakers. Abavu had 18 hits, 14 runs, 6 homers, 13 RBI, and .843 OPS in his 19 starts.

This would be Abavu’s final playoff appearances. In the Oceania Championship he excelled in 18 starts with 27 hits, 10 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, 15 RBI, .375/.392/.750 slash, 234 wRC+, and 1.3 WAR. In 38 Baseball Grand Championship Games, he was respectable with 38 hits, 27 runs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers, 22 RBI, .252/.317/.517 slash, 134 wRC+, and 1.0 WAR.

Abavu won his fifth and final Silver Slugger in 2014. That June, the Green Jackets locked him up to an eight-year, $106,900,000 deal. His first major injury setback came in May 2015 with a fractured ankle costing him the second half. Guadalcanal remained competitive and averaged 89.7 wins per season from 2014-22. However, they wouldn’t return to the top spot in the standings. Through it all, Abavu was reliably good for 4+ WAR per season.

After the 2021 season, the now 35-year old Abavu signed a three-year, $32,200,000 extension with Guadalcanal. This was the closest they came to another pennant with Abavu with a second place 100-62 in 2021 and 97-65 in 2022. Both years, they finished two games behind Vanuatu for the top spot. In 2023, Abavu joined the 400 home run and 2500 hit clubs.

2023 would be Guadalcanal’s first losing season since 2008. Abavu’s production dropped noticeably in 2024 and the rebuilding Green Jackets traded their long-time star at the deadline to Tahiti straight up for C prospect Eleei Maietoa. After 56 games and .714 OPS for the Tropics, Abavu retired in the winter at age 38. Guadalcanal quickly brought their home country kid home to retire his #33 uniform for his 18 years of service.

Abavu would retire as OBA’s all-time triples leader at 394, and ranks 13th in all of pro baseball history as of 2037. He finished with 2626 games, 2703 hits, 1412 runs, 474 doubles, 394 triples, 440 home runs, 1463 RBI, 679 walks, 2318 strikeouts, 335 steals, .276/.325/.540 slash, 144 wRC+, and 76.4 WAR.

As of 2037 in OBA, Abavu ranks 12th in games, 14th in runs, 16th in hits, 9th in total bases (5285), 7th in doubles, 37th in homers, 18th in RBI, 39th in walks, 16th in strikeouts, and 30th in WAR for position players. Despite that resume, Abavu surprisingly only got 68.4% on his debut ballot. However, that got him across the 66% threshold for a first ballot spot to cap off the 2030 Hall of Fame class for the Oceania Baseball Association.