The New Zealand baseball player John Holdzkom could start the new Major League Baseball season playing in the minor leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher John Holdzkom of New Zealand in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 27-year-old pitcher, who has played for New Zealand, came to prominence late last season as the Pittsburgh Pirates clinched a play-off berth.
Holdzkom is hoping to secure a spot in the Pirates bullpen for the new season which starts next month.
The Pirates say they love what Holdzkom is doing, but they have a handful of other guys throwing the ball well and it'll be a tough decision finalising the seven bullpen spots available.
Holdzkom started 2014 playing in independent leagues, before being picked up by the Pirates with a month to go in the season and pitched in the 2014 NL Wild Card Playoff Game against the Giants.
He could play in the Pirates second-tier team in Indianapolis.
