They're only in their third season, but the Auckland Tuatara are fast gaining international attention.
With the help of innovative scouting technology, they've lured the best pitcher in the league for the upcoming n Australian Baseball League season, and are in the box seat to host the whole competition in Auckland.
Newshub understands, league officials are considering playing every game at Tuatara's home base of North Harbour Stadium.
"The prefered option is playing baseball in Auckland," General manager Regan Wood tells Newshub.
With strict COVID-19 border restrictions in place, the prospect of the two conference, trans-Tasman championship, is untenable.
The solution? Provide a safe city, a quality stadium and that's what Auckland can offer - especially if the city is gifted out of Alert Level 2.
And that could mean Kiwi fans get to see one of the greatest baseballers in Major League history - Manny Ramirez.
The two time World Series winner turned down a deal with Auckland to sign with the Sydney Blue Sox, but that's added motivation for Tuatara outfielder Andrew Marck
"He's one of the best players to walk the earth," Marck tells Newshub.
"It would've been great to have him with us, but now we will just have to beat him."
And how do you strike out one of the best right-hand hitters of all time? Sign the league's best pitcher - South African Dylan Unsworth
"The league's built on pitching and this guy's proved that he can go week in and week out and perform with the best of them, and that's really exciting for us," says Marck.
The former Perth Heat pitcher played with the Seattle Mariners in the minor leagues and see's the Tuatara as a stepping stone into Asia.
The Auckland club has invested in a vision-based ball tracking system that collates statistical information on players, which international league scouts can access
"A player down here won't get lost, so we can say come play with us, we've got this technology, and we're sharing that with the Major League teams," notes Wood.
The Tuatara proving when life throws a COVID-19 curveball, you strike back with Kiwi solutions.
Watch the video above for more.
