From December 12th to 20th, Baseball New Zealand will send two national age-grade teams, 16u and 18u, each with a 20–25 player roster, to the Gold Coast for a high-performance tour against a Queensland Baseball representative team.
This key tour will see our players face one of Australia’s top baseball states, providing a concentrated player development camp alongside competitive games. With Queensland boasting a deep talent pool and a strong baseball tradition, this trip will test our athletes against high-level competition and provide valuable opportunities to perform in front of Major League Baseball scouts and professional talent identifiers from across Australia.
Coaching Staff
The U18 team will be led by Aaron Campbell and his national coaching staff. Recruitment is now underway for a U16 coaching staff to join the tour, working with our athletes to prepare them for future international success in line with Baseball NZ’s performance standards and philosophies.
Pathway Purpose
For the U16 New Zealand Development Team, the tour is an important step in preparing players for the U18 WBSC World Cup Qualifier in the following year, while also accelerating the growth of younger 18u athletes. For top-age 18u players, it’s a rare chance to showcase their skills in front of professional scouts, college recruiters, and Australian baseball clubs.
From the National Performance Manager: “This is an amazing opportunity for players to test themselves against one of Australia’s top states in preparation for the following year’s WBSC Qualifier, and for all players to play against a higher level of play,” said Connar O’Gorman, Baseball New Zealand’s National Performance, Pathways and Player Development Manager.
Call to Action – 16u Coaching Staff
Baseball New Zealand is seeking expressions of interest from coaches wanting to join the U16 staff for this tour.
If you are interested, please send your baseball CV with a covering letter to info@baseballnewzealand.co.nz by 14th September. Applicants should be passionate about player development, committed to high-performance standards, and eager to contribute to an international campaign.
Further player selection announcements and tour details will be released shortly.