Some of New Zealand's top baseball prospects will get the chance to make their first step toward a career in the sport when they travel to Australia this weekend.
New Zealand under-15 representatives Mincharn Kim (North Shore City), Ciaran Bolger (PK Pirates, Wellington), Noah-Sea Nui (Porirua Bombers) and Cooper Grant
(Nelson Heat) have been selected to attend a Major League Baseball showcase on the Gold Coast from Sunday to Thursday where MLB, Baseball Australia and Baseball New Zealand will be looking to identify the next big thing.
The learning opportunities and pathways for young Kiwi baseball players are steadily expanding across the globe. This year, more than 18 New Zealanders are plying their trade abroad either professionally or at the collegiate level.
"These young men have worked tirelessly on the diamond and off to get chances like this," Baseball New Zealand chief executive Ryan Flynn said. "And the likes of Mincharn, Noah, Cooper and Ciaran have put in the training time to prove to our national coaches and selectors that they have the ability to go further in the game. We are very proud of this group of young ball players."
It could be the start of a similar journey to that of Auckland's 19-year-old pitching sensation Kyle Glogoski, who was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies late last year and has begun his journey toward the major league level.
