Auckland Tuatara

Professional baseball team of New Zealand

For the basketball team, see Auckland Tuatara (basketball).

Auckland Tuatara

Information
League| Australian Baseball League
Location| Auckland, New Zealand
Ballpark| North Harbour Stadium
Founded| 2018
Folded| 2023
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.

## History[edit]

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[edit]

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

### Single season pitching records[edit]

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

| Record  | Holder  | Year

|
|
|

Most Strikeouts | 44  | Josh Collmenter | 2018–2019
Lowest ERA | 1.09  | Elliot Johnstone | 2019–2020
Most Wins | 4  | Elliot Johnstone | 2019–2020
Most Losses | 6  | Jimmy Boyce | 2018–2019
Most Innings Pitched | 55.1  | Josh Collmenter  | 2018–2019
Most Saves | 5  | Hever Bueno  | 2019–2020

### Career pitching records[edit]

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

| Record  | Holder  | Year

|
|
|

Most Strikeouts | 84  | Josh Collmenter | 2018–2020
Lowest ERA | 1.09  | Elliot Johnstone  | 2018–2020
Most Wins | 6  | Josh Collmenter  | 2018–2020
Most Losses | 7  | Jimmy Boyce | 2018–2020
Most Innings Pitched | 104.1  | Josh Collmenter  | 2018–2020
Most Saves | 5  | Elliot Johnstone | 2019-2023
Most Games | 29  | Elliot Johnstone | 2019-2023

### Career hitting records[edit]

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

| Record  | Holder  | Year

|
|
|

Highest Batting Average | .319  | Andrew Marck | 2018–2023
Most Doubles | 12  | Kris Richards  | 2018–2020
Most Triples | 4  | Max Brown | 2018–2019
Most Home Runs | 4  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Most Runs Batted In | 26  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Most Hits | 42  | Andrew Marck | 2019–2023
Most Runs | 35  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Most Games Played | 76  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Most Stolen Bases | 12  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Most Strikeouts | 67  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Highest On-Base Percentage | .357  | Andrew Marck | 2018–2023
Highest Slugging Percentage  | .541  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019
Highest On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage | .741  | Andrew Marck | 2018–2023
Most Total Bases | 78  | Max Brown  | 2018–2019

### Single season hitting records[edit]

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

| Record  | Holder  | Year

|
|
|

Highest Batting Average | .344  | Jared Walker | 2019–2020
Most Doubles | 11  | Jared Walker, Kris Richards  | 2019–2020, 2018-2019
Most Triples | 3  | Max Brown | 2018–2019
Most Home Runs | 10  | Won-Seok Kim  | 2019–2020
Most Runs Batted In | 33  | Jared Walker  | 2019–2020
Most Hits | 42  | Jared Walker  | 2019–2020
Most Runs Scored | 31  | Jared Walker  | 2019–2020
Most Stolen Bases | 12  | Eric Jenkins  | 2018–2019
Most Strikeouts | 46  | Zach Clark  | 2018–2019

## References[edit]

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.

## External links[edit]

* Australian Baseball League website

* v
* t
* e

Australian Baseball League

* Australian Baseball Federation
* List of team rosters
* List of champions

Seasons|

* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22 (cancelled)
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

Current clubs|

* Adelaide Giants
* Brisbane Bandits
* Canberra Cavalry
* Melbourne Aces
* Perth Heat
* Sydney Blue Sox

Former, relocated,
and disestablished clubs|

* Auckland Tuatara
* Geelong-Korea

* Claxton Shield (1934–1988, 2003–2010)
* Australian Baseball League (1989–1999)
* International Baseball League of Australia (1999–2002)

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Auckland, New Zealand

Association football|

A-League
Auckland FC
NZNL
Auckland City
Auckland United
Eastern Suburbs
Manurewa

Baseball|

ABL
Auckland Tuatara

Basketball|

ANBL
New Zealand Breakers

Cricket|

NZC (Men)
Auckland Aces
NZC (Women)
Auckland Hearts

Ice hockey|

New Zealand Ice Hockey League
Auckland Mako
Botany Swarm
West Auckland Admirals

Netball|

ANZ Premiership
Northern Mystics
Northern Stars

Rugby league|

NRL / NRLW
New Zealand Warriors
Albert Baskerville Trophy
Akarana
Counties Manukau

Rugby union|

Super Rugby
Blues
NPC
Auckland
Counties Manukau
North Harbour
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