Following the departure of Leon Boyd (stays in Canada) and Dushan Ruzic, defending Dutch champion DOOR Neptunus has added Australian pitcher Craig Anderson to the roster for the upcoming 2011 season. The 30-year-old left-hander reinforces a pitching staff, which also features Diegomar Markwell, Arshwin Asjes, Kevin Heijstek and Berry van Driel among others.
Anderson began his professional career in 1999 when he signed with the Seattle Mariners organization. He moved up the ladder and later also joined the Baltimore Orioles organization but never got the opportunity to play in the big leagues. Interrupted by short stint in the Canadian American Association, the southpaw played a total of nine seasons in affiliated minor league ball between 1999 and 2008.
In the past two years Anderson again took the mound in the Independent League circuit. In 2010 he had a 9-3 record with an ERA of 4.31 in 19 games (18 starts) for Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League. He struck out 64 batters in 104 1/3 innings, walking 26. He also was part of the Australian National Team at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, the Baseball World Cups in 2005 and 2009 and the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics. He arrived in the Netherlands on April 4.
DOOR Neptunus is going to open the season on Thursday against L&D Amsterdam. Besides Anderson they also added Asjes, Tim Roodenburg, Kevin van Veen, Sape Wagenaar and Mike Bazuin this winter. Jan Collins succeeds Steve Janssen (fulltime pitching coach Dutch national team) as new head coach.