Auckland Tuatara (baseball)

Last updated

Auckland Tuatara
Auckland tuatara logo.jpg
Information
League Australian Baseball League
Location Auckland, New Zealand
Ballpark North Harbour Stadium
Founded2018
Folded2023
Colours  Teal
  Navy blue
Ownership Baseball New Zealand
Website https://aucklandtuatara.com

The Auckland Tuatara were a professional baseball team in the Australian Baseball League based in Auckland, New Zealand. They were the only team from New Zealand to compete in the ABL, and one of two expansion teams that entered the league in the 2018/19 season. The team was liquidated and folded after the 2022/23 season.

Contents

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.[ citation needed ]

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 played its home games at McLeod Park in Te Atatū South for the 2018/19 season, and moved to an expanded North Harbour Stadium in Albany for the 2019/20 season and beyond. [2] For baseball a section of seating was permanently removed and replaced by an outfield wall which is termed The Teal monster after the Green Monster wall in Boston.[ citation needed ]

The club's inaugural manager was announced as former MLB pitcher Steve Mintz. [3]

Three days before the start of the 2019–20 season, Tuatara player Ryan Costello was found dead in his sleep by teammates on 18 November 2019. [4] [5] Players wore 'RC' on their game jersey for the season in his memory.[ citation needed ]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team sat out the 2020–21 and 2021–22 Australian Baseball League seasons. [6]

The team returned to action for the 2022–23 Australian Baseball League season, but went into liquidation following the season. [7]

Records

Names in Bold are players still active in the Australian Baseball League

Single season pitching records

Notable individual records set in one Season, these include all games between 2018-Present

RecordHolderYear
Most Strikeouts44 Josh Collmenter 2018–2019
Lowest ERA1.09Elliot Johnstone2019–2020
Most Wins4Elliot Johnstone2019–2020
Most Losses6Jimmy Boyce2018–2019
Most Innings Pitched55.1Josh Collmenter2018–2019
Most Saves5Hever Bueno2019–2020

Career pitching records

Notable individual records set in a Career, these include all games between 2018-Present, To qualify players must return for a second Season

RecordHolderYear
Most Strikeouts84 Josh Collmenter 2018–2020
Lowest ERA1.09Elliot Johnstone2018–2020
Most Wins6Josh Collmenter2018–2020
Most Losses7Jimmy Boyce2018–2020
Most Innings Pitched104.1Josh Collmenter2018–2020
Most Saves5Elliot Johnstone2019-2023
Most Games29Elliot Johnstone2019-2023

Career hitting records

Notable individual records set in a Career, these include all games between 2018-Present, To qualify players must return for a second Season

RecordHolderYear
Highest Batting Average.319 Andrew Marck 2018–2023
Most Doubles12Kris Richards2018–2020
Most Triples4 Max Brown 2018–2019
Most Home Runs4Max Brown2018–2019
Most Runs Batted In26Max Brown2018–2019
Most Hits42Andrew Marck2019–2023
Most Runs35Max Brown2018–2019
Most Games Played76Max Brown2018–2019
Most Stolen Bases12Max Brown2018–2019
Most Strikeouts67Max Brown2018–2019
Highest On-Base Percentage.357Andrew Marck2018–2023
Highest Slugging Percentage .541Max Brown2018–2019
Highest On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage.741Andrew Marck2018–2023
Most Total Bases78Max Brown2018–2019

Single season hitting records

Notable individual records set in one Season, these include all games between 2018-Present

RecordHolderYear
Highest Batting Average.344 Jared Walker 2019–2020
Most Doubles11Jared Walker, Kris Richards2019–2020, 2018-2019
Most Triples3 Max Brown 2018–2019
Most Home Runs10Won-Seok Kim2019–2020
Most Runs Batted In33Jared Walker2019–2020
Most Hits42Jared Walker2019–2020
Most Runs Scored31Jared Walker2019–2020
Most Stolen Bases12Eric Jenkins2018–2019
Most Strikeouts46Zach Clark2018–2019

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References

  1. ↑ Penrose, David (26 August 2018). "Auckland reveals name and colours". TheABL.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  2. ↑ Reive, Christopher (26 August 2018). "Baseball: Auckland Tuatara officially unveiled as New Zealand entry to Australian Baseball League". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Penrose, David (26 August 2018). "Mintz named first Tuatara manager". TheABL.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Daren Smith (18 November 2019). "Twins' Costello found dead in New Zealand". MiLB.com. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Baseball: Auckland Tuatara players mourning after death of third baseman Ryan Costello". New Zealand Herald . 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Long, David (18 June 2021). "Auckland Tuatara pull out of second successive season in Australian Baseball League". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Long, David (14 May 2023). "The extinction of the Tuatara, why NZ's professional baseball team went bust". Stuff. Stuff Ltd. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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