Promising South Auckland baseball player Clayton Campbell Jr will join his cousin Jason Matthews on the Auckland Tuatara roster for their return to the Australian Baseball League this summer.

Campbell Jr, who grew up in South Auckland before signing with the Detroit Tigers organisation, has agreed to terms with the Auckland-based franchise for the 2022-23 season.

The immensely talented and versatile Campbell Jr played briefly for the Tuatara back in 2019-20 when he joined the roster for a series in Sydney, where he was living with his family at the time.

Campbell Jr can play third base, catcher or in the outfield, has played for the Sydney Blue Sox and had signed to play the cancelled 2021-22 season with the Adelaide Giants.

“Clayton is a really exciting and talented ballplayer and has the world at his feet,” Auckland Tuatara chief executive Regan Wood said.

“We have been talking to him for the last couple of seasons but of course we were forced to sit out.

“It is a massive coup for us to secure both Clayton and Jason and we are thrilled because they are modest but extremely talented kids from good Kiwi families and reflect everything we want in our ballplayers.”

Campbell Jr said coming back to New Zealand to play was something he is very much looking forward to.

“I’m really excited to join the Tuatara and getting to come back home to Auckland and play. The franchise is building something special there and I’m glad I can be a part of that – hopefully for years to come.

“It will be an amazing experience to play alongside the cuzzy and something my family will treasure.”

Campbell Jr joins Matthews, who was announced last summer, on the 2022-23 Tuatara roster.

Inaugural manager Stephen Mintz has also agreed to manage the side once again.