Rangers bolster Tuatara links
Auckland Tuatara’s close relationship with the Texas Rangers could be a win/ win for both clubs and result in some future superstars of baseball heading to New Zealand.
The Rangers are sending five players to the Tuatara for the new Australian Baseball League season which begins on November 21.
It’s not at the level yet of where it is with basketball, where LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton are plying their trade in the Australian NBL this season before being high picks in next year’s NBA draft.
However, Paul Kruger, the director of minor league operations at the Rangers, is sending down Josh Morgan (second base), Yonny Hernandez (short stop), Emerson Martinez (right-handed pitcher), Lucas Jacobsen (left-handed pitcher) and Hever Bueno (right-handed pitcher) because he believes players will benefit from a season with the Tuatara and trusts the club to look after them well.
He also believes their connection with the Tuatara can play a part in the Rangers eventually winning the World Series for the first time.
‘‘There are two reasons why our relationship with Auckland is so strong,’’ Kruger told I.
‘‘One is with Steve Mintz, being the [Tuatara] manager, who also works for our organisation as a pitching coach.
‘‘It’s always a positive to have one of our own there, to watch over their plans and developmental ideals over the offseason as they continue to play, whether it’s stuff in the weight rooms, training room, their movement patterns.
‘‘Also, our relationship with Regan [Wood, Tuatara CEO], who came out this past spring training and really has been a key cog in the relationship with the Texas Rangers. He has made it feel not like just another winter league team, but a team that’s truly committed to the betterment of our players and what the Texas Rangers have to offer.
‘‘There was also the response we got from our players and Mintzy from their season last year.
‘‘A lot of it was on the road last year, because of the stadium obligations, but the way they were treated in a first class manner is something we don’t take lightly and truly value.’’
When being told they’d be spending a few months in Auckland, the players could have been forgiven for thinking Kruger said Oakland and they’ve just been traded to the Athletics.
However, Kruger believes spending time in New Zealand will help the players become more rounded people through this life experience.
‘‘Any time you can tell a younger player in his early 20s to go play baseball at a high level in a place like Auckland and travel throughout New Zealand and Australia, that’s big.
‘‘The biggest thing is the relationships we have and the environment created by the entire front office staff with the Tuatara and the Auckland community.
‘‘This is something we’ve all been looking forward to since this was brought up.’’
As well as the five players from the Rangers who’ll be with the Tuatara, there are also two from the Dodgers and one from the Mets and Twins, plus New Zealand’s Kyle Glogoski who is with the Phillies organisation.
It doesn’t cost the Tuatara any money for these players as their wages are paid by their American clubs.
‘‘The relationships with the ABL are heavily funded by the Major League clubs, so we want to send over guys we truly think are going to benefit from that,’’ Kruger said.
‘‘As the league continues to develop and becomes stronger, these opportunities will become more for everybody, with kids who want to grow.
‘‘As we look at it from an organisational standpoint and the way we treat our players, we like guys to play. We like experiences, cultural enhancement opportunities, whether that’s in the Caribbean with their winter league, the ABL or a league in Taiwan.
‘‘Our job is to provide opportunities for our players to get better wherever that may be.’’