Howick Hawks outfielder Tui Amosa is among the four young baseballers who have received a development player contract with the Auckland Tuatara for the 2022/23 Australian Baseball League (ABL) season.
Amosa, 19, finished his last year at Botany Downs Secondary College in 2021 and has already racked up several impressive accolades.
Amosa made his Auckland premier grade debut for the Howick Hawks when he was just 15 and has represented New Zealand in age-group baseball for the Under 12, 16 and 18 sides respectively.
General manager of sport and communications for Auckland Tuatara Dale Budge says, “Tui is someone we have been keeping an eye on for a couple of seasons now.
“He is very talented and combines that with a great attitude. We hope to continue to see him in a Tuatara uniform in the years ahead.
“He has plenty of athleticism and a nice left-handed swing. We think he is one of the best prospects in New Zealand and feel he can go a long way in the sport.”
“Having experienced the competitive aspect the sport brings, it has allowed me to develop the drive and motivation to develop and sharpen my skills in all areas of the game, both physically and mentally,” says Amosa.
Dan Amosa, Tui’s father, says he has been playing since October 2009, at age six, and has made it clear that’s what he has wanted to pursue since he was about 13.
“There was no Tuatara or much baseball in New Zealand for that matter when he was younger, so we were mapping out a path to get to America to go through the NBL (National Baseball League) farming system or college route,” says Amosa.
“It has been our life supporting Tui with his baseball, as with all our children – we are there week in, week out,” he says.
The Auckland Tuatara have given a further three contracts to Central City infielder Ayrton Laird and left-handed pitchers Todd Hatcher and Maclain Roberts.
The New Zealand side begun their ABL season on November 10 when they travelled to Brisbane for a four-game series against the Brisbane Bandits, which they lost three games to one.
~ As published in Times Online – times.co.nz