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.
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 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. 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. 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.
The club's inaugural manager was announced as former MLB pitcher Steve Mintz.
Three days before the start of the 2019–20 season, Tuatara player Ryan Costello was found dead while asleep by teammates on 18 November 2019. Players wore 'RC' on their game jersey for the season in his memory.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team sat out the 2020–21 and 2021–22 Australian Baseball League seasons. The team returned to action for the 2022–23 Australian Baseball League season, but went into liquidation following the season.
Records
Names in Bold are players still active in the Australian Baseball League
Single season pitching records Notable individual records set in one season, including all games between 2018 and 2023. RecordHolderYearMost Strikeouts44Josh Collmenter2018–2019Lowest ERA1.09Elliot Johnstone2019–2020Most Wins4Elliot Johnstone2019–2020Most Losses6Jimmy Boyce2018–2019Most Innings Pitched55.1Josh Collmenter2018–2019Most Saves5Hever Bueno2019–2020
Career pitching records Notable individual records set in a career, including all games between 2018 and 2023. To qualify, players must return for a second season. RecordHolderYearMost Strikeouts84Josh Collmenter2018–2020Lowest ERA1.09Elliot Johnstone2018–2020Most Wins6Josh Collmenter2018–2020Most Losses7 Jimmy Boyce2018–2020Most Innings Pitched104.1Josh Collmenter2018–2020Most Saves5Elliot Johnstone2019-2023Most Games29Elliot Johnstone2019-2023
Career hitting records Notable individual records set in a career, including all games between 2018 and 2023. To qualify, players must return for a second season. RecordHolderYearHighest Batting Average.319Andrew Marck2018–2023Most Doubles12Kris Richards2018–2020Most Triples4Max Brown2018–2019Most Home Runs4Max Brown2018–2019Most Runs Batted In26Max Brown2018–2019Most Hits42Andrew Marck2019–2023Most Runs35Max Brown2018–2019Most Games Played76Max Brown2018–2019Most Stolen Bases12Max Brown2018–2019Most Strikeouts67Max Brown2018–2019Highest On-Base Percentage.357Andrew Marck2018–2023Highest Slugging Percentage .541Max Brown2018–2019Highest On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage.741Andrew Marck2018–2023Most Total Bases78Max Brown2018–2019
Single season hitting records Notable individual records set in one season, including all games between 2018 and 2023. RecordHolderYearHighest Batting Average.344Jared Walker2019–2020Most Doubles11Jared Walker, Kris Richards2019–2020, 2018-2019Most Triples3Max Brown2018–2019Most Home Runs10Won-Seok Kim2019–2020Most Runs Batted In33Jared Walker2019–2020Most Hits42Jared Walker2019–2020Most Runs Scored31Jared Walker2019–2020Most Stolen Bases12Eric Jenkins2018–2019Most Strikeouts46Zach Clark2018–2019
References
External links Australian Baseball League website