New Zealander Signs Baseball Contract with The Baltimore Orioles
by 17 year old Pita Rona’s life long dream has come true.
Orioles scouts, headed by director of international scouting David Stockstill, put around 50 players through their paces earlier this week in Auckland, and Flynn said they were “thrilled” with the quality on offer.
Pita Rona, 17, snared the seven-year deal with the Orioles after being spotted by scouts, beginning when he joins the organisation’s development programme in Australia.
The 1.95cm tall and still growing teenager has all the right weapons that the Scouts were looking for and more, “He’s got great hands, great footwork, great attitude, power and speed. He could be five-tool player, and in America that means you can do it all: hitting, running, fielding, throwing and catching.”
Rona must first play for the Junior Diamond Blacks baseball team in Guam trying to qualify for the world championships in Korea in August.
Flynn says there’s no reason New Zealand can’t aspire to reach the heights Australia has attained in baseball, with a baseball programme rated 10th best in the world.
35, Brad 188cm tall and 17, Pita Rona 195cm tall. The first of possibly many New Zealand Baseballing Dynasties.
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