New Zealand national baseball team

Information
Country|  New Zealand
Federation| Baseball New Zealand
Confederation| WBSC Oceania
Manager| Steve Mintz
WBSC ranking
Current|  48  2 (31 December 2024)[1]
Highest| 26 (December 2014 – December 2016)
Lowest| 50 (2 times; latest in June 2021)

The New Zealand national baseball team, also known as the Diamondblacks,[2] is the representative team at the international level for New Zealand. The team is controlled by Baseball New Zealand, the country's governing body. The team competes in the Oceania Championship, where, in 2007, it withdrew from play, giving Australia an automatic berth into the Final qualification tournament for the 2008 Olympics.[3] The "Diamondblacks" nickname is one of many national team nicknames related to the All Blacks.

## Results and fixtures

[edit]

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[4]

Legend

Win   Lose   Void or postponed   Fixture

### 2022

[edit]

World Baseball Classic Q | September 30  | New Zealand  | 7–12  |  Brazil | Rod Carew Stadium, Panama

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12:00 CT | LP: Ben Thompson
HR: Nikau Pouaka-Grego (1)  | Boxscore | WP: Gabriel Barbosa
HR: Christian Lopes (1)  | Attendance: 105
Umpires: HP: Anthony Perez. 1B: Austin Jones. 2B: Juan Manuel Rodriguez. 3B: Frantisek Pribyl.
World Baseball Classic Q | October 2  | New Zealand  | 1–4  |  Argentina | Rod Carew Stadium, Panama

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19:00 CT | LP: Elliot Johnstone
HR: Chayton Krauss (1)  | Boxscore | WP: Federico Robles
Sv: Jose Mendoza (1)
| Attendance: 193
Umpires: HP: Frantisek Pribyl. 1B: Michael Ulloa. 2B: Mark Stewart. 3B: Austin Jones

## 2013 WBC Qualifiers

[edit]

In 2011, Major League Baseball announced that New Zealand would be among the nations invited to a new qualification round to be held in 2012 for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.[citation needed] Ryan Flynn, Chief Executive of Baseball New Zealand, called the development "the best thing to happen in the history of diamond sports in New Zealand."[5] The Diamondblacks, managed by Andy Skeels, won two games and reached the championship game of the Qualifier, but fell to host Taiwan in the final game.[citation needed] New Zealand's Scott Campbell led all players in the tournament with a .583 batting average (7 for 12 with 2 doubles), while playing an error-free tournament at SS.[6] Teammate Boss Moanaroa hit the tournament's only home run.[7] Seventeen-year-old Mak Fox recorded the win against Thailand,[7] while future Major Leaguer John Holdzkom was credited with the win against the Philippines.[8]

## 2017 WBC Qualifiers

[edit]

The Diamondblacks, managed by Chris Woodward—a former Major League infielder and former Manager of the Texas Rangers—beat the Philippines but lost twice to South Africa and were eliminated.[9] Boss Moanaroa led the way in New Zealand's win against the Philippines, going 4 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, and 7 RBI; he added another RBI against South Africa and thereby led the tournament with 8 RBI.[citation needed] His brother Moko led the team with a .500 batting average.[citation needed] Eighteen-year-old Jimmy Boyce was credited with the win against the Philippines.[10] Five of the Diamondblacks were teenagers, including 17-year-old Kyle Glogoski, who also pitched against the Philippines.

## 2021 WBC Qualifiers

[edit]

New Zealand was set to compete in the 2021 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. The Diamondblacks had named Stephen Mintz as their manager and had selected their roster.[11] But the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

## Current roster

[edit]

New Zealand roster – 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Players | Coaches
Pitchers

*   * 30 Charlie Adamson
*   * 44 Jimmy Boyce
*   * 45 Nao Fukuda
*   * 36 Zaid Flynn
*   * 20 Eugene Gay
*   * 19 Connor Gleeson
*   * 21 Todd Hatcher
*   * 34 Mitchell Hughson
*   * 24 Elliot Johnstone
*   *  2 Ryota Okumoto
*   * 49 Maclain Roberts
*   * 18 Ryan Sanders
*   * 25 Yuuki Takahashi
*   * 23 Ben Thompson

|  | Catchers

*   * 35 Beau Te Wera Bishop
*   * 77 Faenza Bishop
*   * 12 Connar O'Gorman

Infielders

*   *  5 Duncan Izaaks
*   *  7 Sam Kennelly
*   * 27 Chayton Krauss
*   *  1 Ayrton Laird
*   * 15 Daniel Lamb-Hunt
*   *  9 Jason Matthews
*   *  3 Nikau Pouaka-Grego

Outfielders

*   * 11 Max Brown
*   * 89 Andrew Marck
*   * 14 Kris Richards
*   *  6 Kane Swanson

|  | Manager

*   * 13 Scott Campbell

Coaches

*   * 22 Brian Anderson
*   * 40 Darren Bragg
*   * 17 Brian Matusz
*   * 37 Al Quintana
*   * 29 Daniel Tan

## International tournament results

[edit]

### World Baseball Classic

[edit]

World Baseball Classic record |  | Qualification record

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Year  | Round  | Position  | W | L | RS | RA | W | L | RS | RA
2006 | did not enter | No qualifiers held
2009
2013 | did not qualify | 2  | 2  | 22  | 27
2017 | 1  | 2  | 20  | 23
2023 | 0  | 2  | 8  | 16
2026 | did not enter | did not enter
Total | - | 0/6 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 6 | 50 | 66

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
2. ^ "Plenty of positives for Diamondblacks despite loss". Fairfax New Zealand News. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
3. ^ "Results for the 2007 Oceania Baseball Championship". sportingpulse.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
4. ^ "New Zealand in the WBSC Ranking (Men's baseball)". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
5. ^ "NZ in bid to make World Baseball Classic". Stuff.co.nz. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
6. ^ "Chinese Taipei 9, New Zealand 0". mlb.com. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
7. ^ a b "New Zealand vs. Thailand at XinZhuang Stadium - Friday, November 16, 2012". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
8. ^ "New Zealand vs. Philippines at XinZhuang Stadium - Saturday, November 17, 2012".
9. ^ "New Zealand Diamondblacks eliminated from World Baseball Classic qualifier". Stuff.co.nz. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
10. ^ "A high schooler got the win for New Zealand in its WBC Qualifier elimination game". MLB.com. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
11. ^ "Naming of 2020 Diamondblacks to compete at World Baseball Classic Qualifier". Newzealandbaseball.co.nz. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
12. ^ "2021 World Baseball Classic canceled; event may not return until 2023, report says". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 15 February 2022.

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