Four of New Zealand’s top young baseball prospects are currently on the Gold Coast in Australia this week, and a strong showing at the five-day long Major League Baseball Showcase could be their first step towards an education or career in the sport. Or both.

New Zealand U15 national team players Mincharn Kim (North Shore City), Ciaran Bolger (PK Pirates, Wgtn), Noah-Sea Nui (Porirua Bombers) and Cooper Grant (Nelson Heat) are on the Gold Coast from 26^th to 30th August for intense coaching, training and playing alongside the best young players in Australia and the wider region. The aim of the MLB Australian Showcase is for MLB, Baseball Australia and Baseball New Zealand to identify players with the best baseball tools across the country.

“I’m very excited for this trip, the start of an awesome week ahead,” said one of the quartet, Ciaran Bolger, who added, “I feel very privileged to be one of four Kiwi boys to be chosen to go to the academy.”

Along with the other three young ballplayers, Bolger has been a regular representative in New Zealand age grade teams over the past few years and has worked hard towards achieving his goals within the sport. “I feel as though I have been chosen because of the work I have been putting in (on the game), and thanks go to all the coaches who have worked with me to get to this stage,” said Bolger.

As with any young up and coming baseball player, the 14-year-old has his eyes set on a career in the game. “My biggest goal is to play college ball (in the U.S.) and hopefully be drafted to the MLB at some stage in my life,” said Bolger, adding, “I would also like to learn new skills (while at the showcase) to be able to bring them back to my club and share them.”

Bolger’s sentiments are shared by Nelson Heat infielder Cooper Grant who said, “I would say that I am excited and ready to learn and embrace things the people teach me, and I am most excited about doing the things that I have trained and prepared to do and show other people.

“I love to play baseball because it gives you opportunities and pathways to meet different people and learn from them,” said Grant who has the same goals and ambitions as his U15 team mate Bolger in the he wants to go as far in the game as he can, “All the way to Major League Baseball.”

The learning opportunities and pathways for the nation’s young baseball players are steadily opening up across the globe, as this year there are well over 18 young Kiwis either playing professional or college baseball in North America and across the world, in addition to the group of four heading to the Gold Coast. Additionally, 18-year-old outfielder Correze Nepia from Howick Pakuranga Baseball Club has been selected to join the Major League Baseball World Team in Arizona in October.

“These young men have worked tirelessly on the diamond and off to get chances like this,” said Baseball New Zealand CEO Ryan Flynn. “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 ballplayers.

“It’s also great to see the likes of Aucklander Kyle Glogoski doing so well with Philadelphia Phillies Rookie League team and former Alfriston College student Jason Matthews taking his baseball to the next level as he begins life at NCAA division one school University of South Carolina Upstate, which unfortunately at this moment could not happen if they remained in New Zealand,” said Flynn, who added that the new Auckland-based franchise set to play in the Australian Baseball League will also create opportunities for young baseball players to play professional ball in our own backyard.

Article added: Wednesday 29 August 2018