Baseball: Wilson decides it's make or break time for major leagues

Former world champion Black Sox softballer Travis Wilson has given himself a 12-month deadline to crack baseball's major leagues or get serious about walking away from the game.

Wilson has been working out with the Cincinnati Reds' double-A minor league baseball squad, based in Tennessee, but has no clear direction where he'll be heading next.

Wilson is back in New Zealand and played for the All Stars against Australia at the opening of Tauranga's new $1.5 million Carlton St Reserve softball park.

Wilson batted home the All Stars' only runner in their 12-1 loss.

With a 1000-strong crowd packing the grandstand and ringing the outfield, New Zealand's world champion Black Sox then took on a Western Bay Invitation side in the second leg of a notable double-header, comfortably winning 15-2.

Wilson has played little softball since winning a world championship title with the Black Sox in 1996.

He has been focused on cracking baseball's big time in the United States but after a series of disappointments, including being cut from the Atlanta Braves' 40-man roster 18 months ago after seven years with the club, admitted time was running out to make the major leagues.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure of anything right now, when I head back to the States or even where I'll be going. It's frustrating because I should be striving towards spring training and I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

"To be my age [27] and still in limbo like this is difficult but I'm sure there's something there for me. I'm still keen to wear a uniform on my back," said Wilson. Major leaguers are paid a minimum salary of US$300,000 ($426,300). Wilson is batting for a small portion of that, supplementing his income by playing the off-season in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

"I posted some pretty ordinary numbers last year for Cincinnati. It was a slow start but I finished well. The thing you have to get used to is being under the spotlight in every game you play.

"Even in the minor leagues there are scouts in the stands writing down all your stats.

"Every game is a trial for the 30 major league teams who are always looking to fill their roster.

"It's a business, though - there are no pats on the back. You put up the numbers, [then] you get to the major leagues.

"It's probably fair to say it's a make-or-break year for me, although I said the same thing a year go. I've been close before and the desire's still there."

- NZPA