Baseball New Zealand is keen to play down any rivalry with softball, following the former Black Sox player Pita Rona signing a seven-year deal with Major League side the Baltimore Orioles today.
Baseball NZ CEO Ryan Flynn says the 17-year-old Aucklander is an exciting prospect and his hopeful rise to the major leagues won't hurt softball here.
Flynn says players play both codes around the world.
Rona and the 18 and under New Zealand baseball side head to Guam Sunday to try to win a spot at the junior World Championships in Korea in August.