Baseball: NZ player signs with Toronto Blue Jays

Scott Campbell

Aucklander Scott Campbell has signed a minor league baseball contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The second baseman this month became the first New Zealander to be drafted by a major league baseball team in north America when he was plucked out of the pool in the 10th round by Toronto.

Campbell, 21, has headed back to the North America to begin a professional career after studying at Gonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington.

His US-based father, Glenn Campbell, told The Press newspaper that the sign-on bonus was confidential at this stage.

"But we're very happy with it. Put it this way; his adviser did a good job."

Campbell attracted the interest of several major league clubs following an outstanding college career in the United States.

In the season just finished he picked up 82 hits from 211 at-bats for a .389 average, the second best in the West Coast Conference.

His on-base average was .488.

- NZPA