Justin Erasmus

Justin Erasmus (born 22 January 1990) is a South African Australian professional baseball pitcher for the Heidenheim Heideköpfe of the Baseball Bundesliga. Although Erasmus was born in South Africa, he grew up in Brisbane, Australia where he started his baseball career and has represented both countries.

Career Boston Red Sox Erasmus was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in 2007. He was named to the South Africa national baseball team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic where he started against Mexico, giving up an RBI double and two-run home-run to Adrián González, finishing the tournament 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.

Erasmus spent and with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. While in the Gulf Coast League, Erasmus kept his ERA to 2.09 while pitching over 56 innings. In Australia, Justin debuted for the Brisbane Bandits on 13 November 2010 against the Perth Heat. In 6 games, including 3 starts he conceded a 6.38 ERA over innings in the hitter-friendly Australian Baseball League.

In Erasmus was promoted to the Greenville Drive in Low-A where he pitched an even more outstanding 1.11 ERA over innings. His performance earned him a callup to the Australia national baseball team for the 2011 Baseball World Cup where he conceded one earned run over two innings, picking up the win against Germany. Erasmus returned to Greenville in 2012, but struggled to a 1-3 record and 9.24 ERA with 38 strikeouts and three saves over 26 games.

Joliet Slammers Erasmus began the 2013 season with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. In 27 appearances out of the bullpen, he posted a 3-2 record and 1.82 ERA with 21 strikeouts and 17 saves across innings pitched.

Gateway Grizzlies On August 17, 2013, Erasmus was traded to the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. In six appearances for Gateway, he recorded one win, five strikeouts, and three saves without allowing a run across innings.

On February 18, 2014, Erasmus re-signed with the Grizzlies.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks On May 23, 2014, Erasmus signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 25 appearances (two starts) for Fargo-Moorhead, he compiled a 2-2 record and 5.07 ERA with 38 strikeouts and two saves over 55 innings of work.

Schaumburg Boomers Erasmus finished the 2014 season with the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League. In eight appearances (two starts) for Schaumburg, he posted a 3-0 record and 4.21 ERA with 24 strikeouts and one save across innings of work.

Oosterhout Twins In 2016, Erasmus played for the Oosterhout Twins of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. In five starts for the team, he logged a 2-2 record and 0.55 ERA with 20 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Personal life Erasmus's brother Bradley represented South Africa as a catcher in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.