GERMAN Donald Lutz flies out of Brisbane this morning to the rest of his baseball life, determined to also keep tabs on the fate of his Bandits teammates in their American leagues.

Lutz heads to spring training with his Cincinnati Reds club with an Australian Baseball League championship, a Most Valuable Player trophy and a certificate to say his team had received the keys to the city of Brisbane.

Oh, and a tendency to sometimes tack “mate’’ onto the end of his sentences.

The Brisbane Bandits are presented with the keys to the city. Picture: Darren England. Source: News Corp Australia

Bandits head coach David Nilsson and CEO Mark Ready accepted from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk the keys to the city on behalf of the club at a CBD function.

Lutz received the MVP award from Brisbane’s Australian Baseball League championship series win over Adelaide on February 5-6.

Lutz, Logan Wade, David Sutherland, Mitch Nilsson, Jason Jarvis, Ryan Battaglia, Andrew Campbell, Justin Erasmus and TJ Bennett were the regularly used Bandits players able to attend the presentation. Others had already left for training with their overseas clubs or were on holidays.

The German power hitter was keen to get an early start at spring training in Arizona for his Cincinnati Reds club.

“I want to show them I’m ready to work. I don’t even know when spring training starts officially - I’ll show up,’’ he said.

Lutz said he will keep tabs via the internet on the form and chances offered to Bandits such as Minnesota Twins farm team players Wade and Aaron Whitefield and the club’s three contracted Tampa Bay Rays players.

“I check the ones I know and it’s always exciting to see someone trying to live the dream,’’ he said.

“You try to catch up in person with the teammates you know so well when you can.

“We have had a good time as a team, a lot of celebrating, a lot of emotion and good vibes.

“I don’t know if I will play for the Bandits again. It’s hard to predict. But I love Brisbane and Australia. I have a lot of friends and family here - I’ll be back here at some point.

“It’s been an amazing time for me in Brisbane.’’