Footage of Jason Matthews' exploits has created interest from several scouts around the world.

From South Auckland to Junior College and possibly one day Major League Baseball, that's the dream pathway Jason Mathews is charting.

In the space of just two years Mathews has gone from Counties Manukau softball to travelling the world and attracting the interest of several collegiate and professional scouts.

Mathews could well be the next big thing of NZ baseball.

Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport. New Zealand Diamondblacks shortstop Jason Mathews could be headed for Junior College baseball.

This week, he is one of five 18-year-olds fast tracked into the New Zealand Diamondblacks, who are competing in the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament in Sydney this week, hoping to qualify for next year's world finals tournament against the leading nations.

Last year alone Mathews jetted to the Netherlands, where he impressed many an MLB academy event, and then had scouts swirling at another elite camp, the Senior Fall Showcase, in Arizona.

Not bad for a humble Papakura kid who lost both his parents to cancer when he was six and has since been raised by his sister.

Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport. New Zealand shortstop Jason Matthews is tipped as a future baseball star.

"Since she was young - like 19 - she brought me up," Mathews said. "She's still trying to take care of me. She's given me heaps and now I've got to try and make it through with my baseball to give back to her."

Baseball New Zealand chief executive Ryan Flynn has no doubts Mathews, a shortstop who is being mentored by former AAA Blue Jays infielder Scott Campbell in the Diamondblacks, harnesses the ability to crack the big time.

"He was the most improved player in the Netherlands of 70 kids across Europe and around the world and then he made plays in Arizona that 60-year-old scouts had never seen," Flynn said.

After this week's World Baseball Classic, Mathews next move is likely to be Canada, followed by a possible scholarship to Junior College.

"We've heard from dozens of schools who want him to be their shortstop next year. There's a Canadian programme in Ontario that wants him for the summer first.

"I've also heard there's Major League teams that want to sign him now. He's in a good spot, but we want to make sure he's not taken in and spat out. He has no idea how good he can be. He's just a quiet humble kid but he's starting to see he belongs and that's exciting."

For this week at least, Mathews is soaking up the chance to help the Kiwis progress on the world stage.

"Softball was a little too easy. I thought about the future and wanted to change the game up. It's a huge step to try and compete with all these guys. I'm learning a lot. It's fun for a young guy to meet people but it was scary at first taking care of myself overseas.

"Hopefully a lot of things will come; going to College, leaning more about the game and becoming familiar with it to make it to the big league one day. That's the dream."

After the tragic loss of Lincoln Holdzkom, the elder brother of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher John Holdzkom who died in a single vehicle accident in California in mid-December, the Diamondblacks will hang his No 37 jersey in the dugout and wear a memorial patch on their jerseys to honour him this week.

New Zealand opens the tournament against South Africa on Thursday.