The Auckland Tuatara – the country’s new professional baseball team - will be handing out two pro contracts to New Zealand’s best domestic ballplayers at next month’s nation-wide trials and SKY Sport will document the entire dream-come-true trial process.

The Tuatara will stage trials in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch over the weekend of 15-16 September with SKY Sport coming on board to film proceedings and turn it into a documentary.
 
The best amateur baseball players in the country along with softballers, cricketers and even javelin throwers or water polo players will be encouraged to trial as the Tuatara assembles their roster for their debut season in the Australian Baseball League this summer.
 
Inaugural manager Steve Mintz, who is currently coaching at the Texas Rangers organisation, and Tuatara officials will run the rule over the talent on show with the pick of the crop in Wellington and Christchurch earning a trip to Auckland for a final try-out.
 
“I can’t wait to get to New Zealand and see the talent that is there,” Mintz said, who is a former Major League pitcher himself. “It is going to be fun going around the country and trying to find us some players to help the Tuatara in their first season.”
 
The SKY Sport documentary team will capture the trials in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, interview key trialists and ultimately reveal the two players who will receive professional contracts with the Tuatara.
 
The documentary will capture the drama, the elation and raw disappointment of chasing a baseball dream. It is expected to have a SKY Sport release date of late October, in anticipation of the first Tuatara match in the Australian Baseball League.
 
SKY Director of Sport, Richard Last says: “We’re really excited to have the opportunity to capture what is an incredibly unique baseball competition. We have no doubt the Auckland Tuatara will do well in their inaugural season and who knows who we might uncover in these trials. Good luck to everyone involved!”
 
Baseball New Zealand chief executive Ryan Flynn has worked hard to help the sport grow all around the country and knows how much sporting prowess our youngsters’ possess.
 
“It is the perfect way for Steve to assess the raw baseball talent here in New Zealand as well as promote our first ever season in the ABL,” Flynn said.
 
“There is so much natural talent all over this beautiful country and we hope to find some players who can help us have success as we bring professional baseball to New Zealand for the first time in our nation’s sporting history.
 
“This is a moment that many New Zealanders have waited many years for...to be able to have a chance to play professional baseball on their own soil, in front of family and friends, and match up against the region's and the world's best,' said Flynn, who brought up names like Didi Gregorius, Ronald Acuna, Warwick Saupold, Rhys Hopkins and dozens more current MLB players who have sought hard hitting action of the southern hemisphere winter ball league since 2009.
 
"And it all starts here on diamonds across the New Zealand in mid-September...this is where the dreams begin, and I'm thrilled that SKY TV has agreed to capture this historic moment in time.
 
“I believe we'll see some up-and-coming talent, and our big announcement could be life-changing for a couple of our Kiwi baseball players: I'm going to sign the top two players who make it through a couple of rounds of cuts at our mid-September trials. We'll present Auckland Tuatara ABL contracts to the final two players standing, and we'll work them into our roster during the season.
 
“They will have a chance to control their own destiny, and perhaps even get signed by a Major League Baseball team in the US or a pro team in Japan if they play well,” added Flynn. “Dozens of players have been signed out of this league over the past seven years. It’s time for Kiwis to have the same opportunity as they do across the region and the world. And it all begins on the 15th of September in Wellington.”
 
The Tuatara will assemble as a full team in early November before embarking on their first campaign, including a three weekends of home series played at McLeod Park in West Auckland.