Move over grumpy Dodgers pitcher Zach Grienke – Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius is definitely excited about kicking off the Major League Baseball season in Australia. And with good reason.
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It will be Gregorius' first trip Down Under since he cut his teeth in the Australian Baseball League with the Canberra Cavalry at the end of 2010.
The historic season-opening series between the Diamondbacks and the LA Dodgers at the SCG on Saturday and Sunday was not on the top of Grienke's wish list. Grienke claimed there was zero excitement for the visit, citing the extra travel workload on the two teams and forgetting about the opportunity of promoting the American pastime to a new audience.
Gregorius has other ideas.
The 24-year-old has been busy pumping up his teammates about what to expect after coming in on the ground floor with the Cavalry in the inaugural season of the ABL.
''I told them it's going to be an amazing trip so they don't have to worry about anything,'' Gregorius said.
''I'm just excited to start the season and play out of the country and help baseball get a little bit bigger in Australia.
''I have nothing bad to say about it.''
You cannot blame him for acting as Australia's No.1 spruiker.
It was Canberra where Gregorius spent a valuable three months working on his game and taking on players who had previously been in the big leagues.
Gregorius was plying his trade in the minor leagues of the Cinncinatti Reds organisation when he spent his off-season with the Cavalry.
The then 20-year-old struggled with the bat and hit just .189. However, he showed off his excellent defensive skils and was rewarded with the competition's Golden Glove as the premier fielder in his position.
"It really went well and it felt like I was at home with the team,'' Gregorious said of his time with the Cavalry.
"It helped me improve and get better, so I look forward from there to now.
''It really helped me a lot because I played against guys who were in the big leagues and at a higher level than me.''
His development continued once he returned to the US.
Gregorius got a taste of the "Big Show'' in 2012, playing eight games with the Reds before he was traded to the Diamondbacks in the off-season.
The move was a master stroke as he played in 103 games of the gruelling 162-game schedule with a respectable batting average of .252.
The individual highlight was his first home run, dispatching New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes into the stands at the Yankee Stadium.
However, Gregorius knows he cannot rest on his laurels.
He faces intense competition for the starting shortstop position from Chris Owings, with speculation one of them could be offered up for a potential trade.
Having been through that before, Gregorius is focusing only on what he can control.
"I don't like being comfortable because once you feel comfortable people think you're cocky,'' he said.
"I never want to be cocky, I'm going to battle for my spot.
"I have a little bit of confidence, but you know you always have to improve.''
