By DZ
Many short-season leagues have now begun, with remaining rookie leagues starting play before the week is out. Assignments for the start of the 2013 season are provided where known for players who have yet to appear in official games.
Since we last checked in, Kalian Sams was promoted to Triple-A, while Alex Liddi was sent down to the same level. Nick Urbanus’ debut in Hickory was overlooked, but he’s now on the list where he belongs.
Finally, July 2nd marks the start of a new annual signing window for international players. Keep an eye out for breaking news on www.mister-baseball.com, and we’ll keep adding names to this column.
MLB –
Didi Gregorius, Arizona Diamondbacks. Netherlands.
Current team: Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
Gregorius has cooled off a bit, hitting .129 in his last ten games at SS for the D’backs. Overall he maintains a .289 batting average and .358 OBP.
Donald Lutz, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Cincinnati Reds (MLB)
The 24 year old outfielder has pinch-hit exclusively over the last two weeks. He is 2-for-7 in that time, while hitting .255 with a home run and two stolen bases overall.
Roger Bernadina, Washington Nationals. Netherlands.
Current team: Washington Nationals (MLB)
Bernadina has missed the last couple of games with an eye infection, but remains on the Nats active roster. He’s hitting .286 over the last two weeks in regular OF duty. For the entire 2013 season he is hitting .180.
Triple A-
Alex Liddi, Seattle Mariners. Italy.
Current team: Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)
Liddi was with the big league club from May 30th to June 18th. He got 17 at bats, with one hit and one walk. The San Remo native is 4 for 8 with a home run in his first two games back in Tacoma.
Kalian Sams, San Diego Padres. Netherlands.
Current Team: Tucson Padres (AAA)
Sams was recently promoted to Triple-A after showing dramatic power in San Antonia (AA). In his first 11 games in AAA, he is hitting .133 with a pair of doubles.
Kai Gronauer, New York Mets. Germany.
Current Team: Las Vegas 51’s (AAA)
Gronauer is back on the disabled list, and has yet to appear in June. He is hitting .278 for the season.
Double A-
Tom Stuifbergen, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: New Britain Rockcats (AA)
Stuifbergen has made two appearances in Double-A since his promotion. In those starts, he has one win, and 10 strikeouts against two walks in 9 innings pitched.
Loek van Mil, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Current team: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA)
van Mil’s numbers took a hit 10 days ago, as he gave up 5 runs while recording two outs. In his 5 other relief appearances over the last two weeks, he threw up zeroes. For the season, van Mil has an ERA of 3.82 with 6 saves and 22 strikeouts in 33 innings.
Single A-
Rodney Daal, San Diego Padres. Netherlands.
Current team: Fort Wayne Tincaps (A)
The 19-year old catcher is holding his own in A-ball. He’s hit .185 with two doubles over the last two weeks, while maintaining a .246 average with 4 home runs and 3 stolen bases through his first 130 at-bats at the level.
Nick Urbanus, Texas Rangers. Netherlands.
Current team: Hickory Crawdads (A)
Urbanus has been in A-ball since mid-May. He’s hitting .188 with a double and stolen base through his first 15 games there.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Cedar Rapids Kernels (A)
Kepler has been assigned to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League. He has yet to appear since the season opened earlier this week.
Rookie –
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Mahoning Valley Scrappers (rookie)
Cervenka had a few appearances in A-ball in April, but he’s now assigned to the Scrappers in the short-season New York-Penn league. He’s got a double and a walk in their first two games of the season.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Jamestown Jammers (rookie)
The lanky Lithuanian made his first appearance in the New York-Penn league last night, going 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and a run while striking out 3 versus no walks.
Lars Huijer, Seattle Mariners. Netherlands.
Current team: Everett AquaSox (rookie)
Huijer made his Northwest League debut June 15th, getting the win with 5.2 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts.
Scott Ronnenbergh, Seattle Mariners. Netherlands.
Daniel Thieben, Seattle Mariners. Germany.
Current team: Pulaski Mariners (rookie)
Thieben & Ronnenbergh have been assigned to the Appalachian League, but have yet to appear in 2013.
Ibrahin Redan, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Aldi Guzman, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Current team: Arizona Reds (rookie)
The “complex” leagues in Arizona and Florida begin play tomorrow.
Markus Solbach, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
The “complex” leagues in Arizona and Florida begin play tomorrow.
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Current team: AZL Athletics (rookie)
The “complex” leagues in Arizona and Florida begin play tomorrow.
Alex Roy, Seattle Mariners. France.
Current team: AZL Mariners (rookie)
The “complex” leagues in Arizona and Florida begin play tomorrow.
Daniel Vavrusa, New York Yankees. Czech Republic.
Current team: DSL Yankees 1 (rookie)
The Dominican Summer League begins play next week.
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Pirates 1 (rookie)
The Dominican Summer League begins play next week.
European Players in organizations whose assignments we await, while they get healthy or finish the school year –
Atlanta Braves: Matteo Mercuri (Italy)
Baltimore Orioles: Jan Novak (Czech Republic)
Chicago Cubs: Alberto Mineo (Italy)
Cincinnati Reds: Davide Anselmi (Italy), Jakub Izold (Slovakia)
Philadelphia Phillies: Julsan Kamara (Germany)