Former Major League Baseball pitcher Josh Collmenter never expected to be plying his trade down in the depths of the Southern Hemisphere.
It may be a long way from the Arizona heat, but the chance to spearhead New Zealand's new team in the Australian Baseball League fit his needs perfectly.
Cut by the Atlanta Braves after a slow start to the 2017 season, the 32-year-old was in search of an off-shore gig - and the call from Baseball NZ chief executive, Ryan Flynn, came at the opportune time.
"I didn't have an opportunity to play in the states this year, so I was trying to look for something to further my career internationally," Collmenter told Newshub.
"I'd reached out to some teams in Europe and then got in contact with [Flynn] who started this baseball programme here and was influential in getting the Australian league team in. He asked me if I'd want to be a part of it.
"It's just a great opportunity to continue to play especially to start in year one with the team here and what they're doing with baseball, it seemed like a win-win for me."
The Michigan native played seven years in Major League baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks and later the Braves, pitching a 28-25 win-loss record and starting over a third of the 214 games he played. He finished with an impressive earned run average of 3.64.
This is no retirement package for the 1.93-metre Collmenter, who still has plenty to offer on the mound with his distinctive style of overhand pitching inspired by a childhood of throwing tomahawks with his brothers in rural Michigan.
"A lot of guys throw really hard and I was kind of the opposite. I relied on deception and a lot of movement and a very unique delivery, so I was kind of unorthodox," he explained.
"That really helped me have a lot of success because it was different from what a lot of other guys were doing, and I was able to take advantage of that."
He doesn't hide the fact that he still has his sights set firmly on the Major Leagues, but Collmenter is wholeheartedly invested in ensuring the Auckland-based team sets itself a firm foundation in its debut season.
"Just to be a part of this team in year one, work with some of the younger local guys - and hopefully those will be the guys who take this team to some great success.
"Be able to impart some of the stuff that I know and work with them on their game and hopefully learn a bit from each other.
"It's an opportunity to continue to pitch. Hopefully that may jump-start something back in the US if I can come out here and have some success
"That's the ultimate goal. There's no interest now, but that could always change."
Collmenter's role in nurturing some of that local talent is already underway. He's been appointed the pitching coach for the New Zealand U-15 development squad that will be making its way to a tournament in Taiwan on Tuesday.
"That was what this trip was about - to get myself immersed in the culture a little bit, see what they're building and help out with this team.
"Hopefully just being here in person gives the kids something that they can aspire to be, especially if baseball is what they're dreaming to do. It's the same thing I was trying to when I was their age."
National High Performance Director, Riki Paewai, says Collmenter's acquisition is a coup for the fledgling NZ club.
"It's huge," said Paewai. "The experience that's he's got, the resume that he's got. He's a major league ball player who's still in his career prime, he just hasn't been able to find a job."
The buzz throughout baseball diamonds across Aotearoa has been building to deafening levels since the announcement of the yet-unnamed team in Australia, and Collmenter's addition has only amplified that.
It's also added an instant dose of credibility to the upcoming Kiwi challenge, which Paewai believes will be invaluable in recruiting elite talent to the squad. The 22-man roster will include 12 overseas players; Collmenter is the first confirmed.
"The big thing for our team is knowing that we have that veteran guy that's going to help out the guys that are coming up.
"Also, when it comes to attracting guys to come and play for us, knowing that we have a superstar like Josh they're more comfortable coming all the way to NZ to play for us."
Expectations are high across the board, and Collmenter is bullish about his new team's chances next season.
"I've learned a bit more now about this this team, what they're trying to build and the roster they're assembling," he noted.
"We should be pretty good year one, I think".
Newshub.
