Auckland Tuatara
| Auckland Tuatara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Ballpark | McLeod Park; QBE Stadium |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Colours | Teal Navy blue |
| Ownership | Baseball New Zealand |
| Manager |  Steve Mintz |
The Auckland Tuatara is a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League based in Auckland, New Zealand. They are the only team from New Zealand to compete in the ABL, and one of two expansion teams entering the league in the 2018/19 season.
History
Prior to the team's foundation in 2018, Baseball New Zealand, the country's governing body of the sport of baseball, held talks starting in 2009 regarding the prospects of adding a New Zealand-based team in the Australian Baseball League. In November 2017, the league decided to expand to eight teams beginning in the 2018/19 season, and Baseball New Zealand was officially awarded a spot in the competition.
On 26 August 2018, the club's name was announced as the Auckland Tuatara, named after the oldest surviving species endemic to the country. According to one of the team's board members, Brett O'Riley, the tuatara was chosen as the name in order to celebrate the resilience of the ancient reptiles, and to raise awareness of New Zealand's commitment to species protection. The club's colours, teal and navy blue, are representative of the region's marine heritage.[1] The Tuatara will play its home games at McLeod Park in Te Atatū South for the 2018/19 season, and later move to QBE Stadium in Albany for the 2019/20 season and beyond.[2]
The club's inaugural manager was announced as former MLB pitcher Steve Mintz.[3]
Current roster
Template:Auckland Tuatara roster
References
- ^ Penrose, David (26 August 2018). "Auckland reveals name and colours". TheABL.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Reive, Christopher (26 August 2018). "Baseball: Auckland Tuatara officially unveiled as New Zealand entry to Australian Baseball League". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ Penrose, David (26 August 2018). "Mintz named first Tuatara manager". TheABL.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2018.