6 Sep 2014

Kiwi pitcher makes MLB debut

6:35 am on 6 September 2014

The former New Zealand baseball player John Holdzkom has made his Major League debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The American born pitcher, who has a New Zealand-born father, pitched an innings and picked up three strikeouts in the Pirates 6-4 loss to the St Louis Cardinals.

PNC baseball park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

PNC baseball park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The tall fast-ball pitcher, who played for New Zealand in 2012, was only added to the Pirates squad at the weekend after playing much of the year in an independent league.

The 26-year-old says pitching in a big league stadium is every pitcher's dream.

He says he tried to tell himself that it's no different than any other game.

The Pirates are curretly third in their division, but still in the hunt for a wildcard spot in the play-offs.