Josh Collmenter is set to be pitching in New Zealand later this year.

Former Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves pitcher Josh Collmenter is expected to being confirmed as one of the first players signed for the Auckland professional baseball team.

Baseball NZ are close to signing off on their bid to join the Australian Baseball League and the ABL have pushed back their deadline for applications to join the expanded league to accommodate the New Zealand bid.

The Baseball NZ board are having a meeting on Thursday night to officially sign off on their application.

The original deadline set by the ABL for the two expansion teams was also on Thursday.

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But in a gesture that highlights how much the Australians want an Auckland team in their league, they have agreed to set a new deadline of Tuesday.

That will give Baseball New Zealand time to have their board meeting and officially put in their application. From then, it should be a formality to confirm the New Zealand team in the league for the new season, which will begin in the summer.

Baseball New Zealand had been expected to confirm their application last Friday, but there was a slight delay caused by the decision to play on an outer oval at QBE Stadium in Albany for the first year and move into the main stadium for year two.

There were costings that needed to be worked through and approved by the board for the pop up stadium, but it was not expected that any of this would deter Baseball NZ entering a team in the league.

Former Ateed CEO Brett O'Riley has been managing the financial side of the bid, while Ryan Flynn has stepped away from his job as CEO of Baseball NZ to look after the playing side.

Although no players can be signed until the team are officially in the league, former Diamondbacks and Braves pitcher, Collmenter appears to one of the first recruits.

Collmenter will be the pitching coach for the New Zealand under-15 team development squad heading to Taiwan in July.

The 32-year-old Collmenter spent seven years playing in the major leagues, with a 38-35 win-loss record, starting in a third of his 214 Major League games and had an impressive earned run average of 3.64.

In the 2011 National League Divisional Series, Collmenter pitched a stunning game for the Diamondbacks in their game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

That night Collmenter pitched seven innings, giving up just two hits and one run, in the 8-1 win.

"After talking to Ryan and seeing his passion for the game and for bringing a program to New Zealand, it was hard not to share his excitement," Collmenter said.

"In addition to playing baseball all over America, (the game) has given me a chance to travel internationally as well and hearing only great things about New Zealand, I was eager to jump at this opportunity."

Collmenter is looking to remain in New Zealand after his stint coaching and his pedigree highlights the quality of players who could be running out for the fledgling team.

"I was connected to Ryan through David Burns, who helps facilitate athletes who want to play baseball overseas," Collmenter said.

"Ryan is also close to several important members of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the organisation I spent most of my career with."

Flynn has been busy working contacts in America as well as Japan and Korea to build a roster, which will also feature the best New Zealand talent.

But he is delighted at the prospect of having someone like Collmenter on board.

"Josh pitched in the majors just over a year ago," Flynn said.

"So it is just fantastic that he's decided to commit to our program and come here, it's a great coup.

"As Josh has said we have a great relationship with the Arizona Diamondbacks and they've been a great help in encouraging him to work with our talented young players.

"Josh is a great representative of the sport of baseball, and America, too.

"He's a Major Leaguer, but he's a Major Leaguer off the field, too. He wants to help young people, he's great at marketing and selling the game—we're extremely fortunate to begin this partnership with Josh."