by DZ
Max Kepler and Didi Gregorius are playing every day in the major leagues, Lithuania’s Dovydas Neverauskas got rewarded for his continued success with a promotion to Triple-A, and Germany’s Donald Lutz was promoted to Triple-A as well, as he continues to work back from injury. Add in veteran Roger Bernadina, and that’s five Europeans with big league time or knocking on the door in Triple-A.
MLB –
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
The Yankees shortstop, hailing from Amsterdam, has been on a tear at the plate. He’s had hits in every game but 3 over the past two weeks, with four multi-hit games in the last week alone. He’s raised his season average to .282 and now has 6 home runs and 3 stolen bases to go with 24 runs scored and 30 RBI.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler has an active six game hitting streak, with a monster game this past Sunday against the New York Yankees (home run, double, stolen base, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI). Kepler is hitting .308 over the last week, finding success with everyday play that eluded him early in the year when he wasn’t playing as often. His big league line in 27 games is .243/.317/.432. He has 10 extra base hits; the successful stolen base Sunday was his first attempt.
Triple A –
Roger Bernadina, New York Mets. Netherlands.
Current team: Las Vegas 51s (AAA)
The Curacao native, who spent some teenage years in the Netherlands, has 6 hits and 8 walks in his last 10 games for Las Vegas. The lefty is hitting .288 with an impressive .378 on base percentage. He has 18 extra base hits and 10 stolen bases in 53 games, while striking out 45 times.
Donald Lutz, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Louisville Bats (AAA)
Lutz opened the 2015 season in Louisville before getting hurt after 13 games and missing the remainder of the season. He’s now 4 games into his 2016 Triple-A career, hitting .300 with a home run. He is at .218/.269/.301 on the year, including his 45 games at Double-A.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
The 23-year old righty is now in Triple-A for the first time. Twelve months ago he had mediocre numbers in A-ball, but he hasn’t looked back since converting to the bullpen and mowing through the second half of last year and continuing his strong showing this year in Double-A. He’s had two outings now for Indy, and has a strikeout and a save to his name there. For the year, he’s 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 2 saves in 24 games. He’s allowed only 16 hits in 30 innings, with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts.
Double A –
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Current team: Midland Rockhounds (AA)
Paz, who developed in the French Academy of Toulouse, played 7 games over the last two weeks and got four hits. He now has 18 games at Double-A and 24 overall this season. He’s hitting .280/.365/.373 with a triple, a home run, 2 stolen bases, 10 strikeouts, 11 walks, and some strong defensive play.
Single-A –
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: West Virginia Power (Low-A)
Arribas cooled off the past two weeks, but still had a pair of multi-hit games this week. He’s scored three runs and hit .176 in his last 10 games. Overall, the everyday catcher for the Power is hitting .261 with a strong .381 OBP. He has 6 home runs to pair with 10 doubles, and is 6-for-7 on stolen base attempts.
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Lake County Captains (Low-A)
The 23-year-old from Czechia got increased playing time, starting seven games in the last two weeks. That included a game on June 9th where he recorded four RBI. Cervenka maintains a .214/.279/.365 slash line while displaying strong defense at a key position.
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Lexington Legends (Low-A)
Gasparini emerged from his slow start to the season with 4 multi-hit games in the last 10 days, and with a current 4-game hitting streak. He’s hitting .297 with 3 stolen bases and a home run in his last 10. In 54 games on the year, he’s hitting .188 with 14 extra base hits, 16 walks versus 74 strikeouts, and 8-of-13 in stolen bases.
Class A (short season) –
Federico Celli, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Current team: Ogden Raptors (short-season A)
The 21-year old Italian outfielder has 3 hits in 25 at bats through the first 7 games of the season. He has walked twice and struck out 13 times.
Alberto Mineo, Chicago Cubs. Italy.
Current team: Eugene Emeralds (short-season A)
Mineo’s season started this weekend, when he had four at bats and recorded an RBI. The 21-year old is in his 5th season as a catcher in the Cubs organization.
Rookie –
Pascal Amon, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 1 (rookie)
The German outfielder begins his career in the Dominican league with 13 games under his belt already. He has hit for a .147 average with 6 walks and 8 strikeouts, and has a triple as well as a stolen base (in 3 attempts).
Vadim Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Season starts this week.
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)
Season starts this week.
Sam Buelens, Toronto Blue Jays. Belgium.
Current team: DSL Blue Jays (rookie)
The 20-year old Belgium outfielder has a hit in 15 at bats through 6 games, with 5 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases.
Alessandro Ciarla, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 2 (rookie)
Yet to appear.
Taylor Clemensia, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Season starts this week.
Nicolo Clemente, Boston Red Sox. Italy.
Current team: DSL Red Sox 1 (rookie)
Yet to appear in 2016.
Leonardo Colagrossi, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 1 (rookie)
Yet to appear.
Ludovico Coveri, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 1 (rookie)
Yet to appear.
Rachid Engelhardt, Baltimore Orioles. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Orioles 1 (rookie)
The 20-year old Dutch outfielder began his 3rd season in the Dominican league with 5 hits in 8 games. He also struck out twice and was caught stealing.
Federico Giordani, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 2 (rookie)
The 18-year old has seven hits through 8 games, with a triple and a home run while getting one stolen base in 3 attempts.
Misja Harcksen, Los Angeles Dodgers. Netherlands.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
The 21-year old Rotterdam native had his first appearance of the year Monday, pitching 1.1 innings with 4 hits, 3 runs, and 2 strikeouts.
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: AZL Reds (rookie)
Yet to appear in 2016.
Ramon Rosso, Los Angeles Dodgers. Spain.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 1 (rookie)
Yet to appear.
Sven Schuller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Yet to appear in 2016.
Matz Schutte, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Yet to appear in 2016.
Claudio Scotti, Pittsburgh Pirates. Italy.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)
Yet to appear.
Artur Strzalka, New York Yankees. Poland.
Current team: GCL Yankees West (rookie)
Yet to appear in 2016.
Ruar Verkerk, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Released (as noted on Mister-baseball.com this weekend).
One more European to add to the list: PJ Conlon
http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=664869#/career/R/pitching/2016/ALL