The 36-year-old right-hand pitcher is one of three Australians in the majors, along with Liam Hendricks (Kansas City Royals) and Ryan Rowland-Smith (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Balfour believes other minor league Aussies could force their way onto rosters next season. "It's very difficult - I couldn't even tell you what the odds are," Balfour said. "When you think about all the kids who are playing little league baseball in Australia, in America and around the world like in Venezuela, Dominican Republic or Japan. "We have players coming into the majors from Germany, from Puerto Rico, all over the world, so when you are talking about trying to get onto a 25-man major league roster, the odds are very, very small. "Then once you make it you have to stay there and find a way to play at that level and that is even tougher."

Balfour has been back in Australia for the past two weeks visiting family in Sydney and travelling as an ambassador for the Australian Baseball League. The reborn national competition has been backed by the MLB, which has invested money, staff and players, allowing them to develop during the American winter. Nine MLB clubs have sent "prospects" from their minor league sides to play in the ABL, while Japanese and Korean clubs have also lent some players although Australian talent still fills most of the roster spots. The highlight of Balfour's trip was a tribute day by the Sydney Blue Sox to his father, David Balfour, who managed the club in the old Australian League but has been battling cancer for several years. On an emotional day, the pair's achievements were celebrated in front of their "home" crowd with MLB network cameras documenting the occassion.

Balfour said the ABL, which had its all-star game shown live on ESPN and beamed back to the US via the MLB's own television channel, was giving young Australians a chance at bigger things. "We love all sport, why not baseball too?" Balfour said. "To have the MLB's backing is huge, the MLB is a very profitable sport, everyone loves it at the moment and it's built on families who come to the ballpark and create memories." Since briefly breaking into the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2001, Balfour has lived through the ups and downs of life in the top league as he moved between relief roles in various major league clubs and stints in the minors. It was in 2008 Balfour truly started to find a place when the Rays traded for him before their run to the World Series, which the Rays lost 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Balfour spent four seasons with the Rays before signing a free agent deal with the Oakland Athletics in 2011, a move that would prove the most important of his career. He made a quick impression, moving from a relief pitcher into one of the toughest roles in baseball - the closing position. The closer is the pitcher who handles the final innings of matches when a team is in the lead - they have to protect the lead and guide their side to victory. Balfour brought an aggressive mentality to the mound, psyching himself up and, at times, acting more like a fast bowler than a pitcher. The Athletics were a strong team, built on the famed "Moneyball" system, which was portrayed in a Brad Pitt movie.

In a side that won two divisional championships, Balfour became an all-star in the 2013 season, when he also set a club record of 44 consecutive saves. Balfour moved back to Tampa Bay in January this year, signing a two-year deal worth about a$7 million a season. "To leave and come back to Tampa - a place where I still live and really enjoy playing in - it's been awesome to come back," Balfour said. "I just wish we had had a better season, that's all." The Rays went 77-85 (win-loss) and missed the playoffs. They have since signed a new manager in Kevin Cash and are rumoured to be looking to dump salaries with Balfour's contract among several mentioned.

Balfour takes trade rumours in his stride. "Getting moved around here, there and everywhere is not always easy," Balfour said. "You get to know your teammates and an environment and then you get moved and it can have an effect and sometimes that is on the field." Balfour had a rough 2014 season and was moved from the closing role to a relief position. Instead of cursing his struggles, Balfour went to work on his pitching and enjoyed a good finish.

"It was a little frustrating along the way and to finish off strong - I worked with a lot of people in the organisation to get myself back to where I wanted to be and in the last six weeks of the season I threw the ball really well," Balfour said. "Leading into the off-season it was good to know you still got it - if you know what I mean. "I started out closing and I kind of stepped back into a role with a little less pressure for a few weeks then went back into a setup role pitching the later seventh or eighth innings while sometimes coming in to close a few games along the way. "We had a few guys there who were throwing the ball really well and when they happens you ride the hot hand. I've been in those shoes and had a pretty good run there for six or seven years." Balfour wants to regain the closing role next season.

"You get to the big leagues and you are just happy to take whatever role you got," Balfour said. "But once you get some time there, you really went to have that specific role. I've worked hard and I would have loved to have had this [closing] role earlier in my career. "I'm going to work hard and hopefully get to close some games for the Rays early this season and see where it takes me." Pitchers can work deep into their 30s, sometimes beyond, and Balfour wants to do just that. "I work hard to stay in shape and I'd love to keep playing as long as I can," Balfour said.

"It's a dream and you want to keep living that dream for as long as you can."