by DZ
There’s been some turnover amongst the European minor leaguers, with a number of promotions, two new signings, and three players whose professional careers have (at least temporarily) been halted.
New signings:
Ernesto Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers. France.
The Cuban émigré who played for France in last year’s U18 European Championship (and the previous year’s World Baseball Classic Qualifier) has signed with the Brewers. Martinez spent two years at the academy in Toulouse, and is now playing in the Dominican Summer League (although he hasn’t yet shown up on MiLB.com).
Leonardo Seminati, Cincinnati Reds. Italy.
The first baseman from the Italian Academy in Tirrenia signed on July 2nd with the Cincinnati Reds. He has yet to be assigned to a minor league affiliate.
Five players were released by their MLB organizations last month:
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
The Dutch catcher/utility player was due to be a minor league free agent at year’s end – that process has been accelerated. Arribas finished his Pirates career in high-A, and will now look for an opportunity where he can log more game time.
Sam Buelens, Toronto Blue Jays. Belgium.
The Belgian outfielder has played the last two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, and is still listed as active on MiLB.com, but he’s currently playing for the Mannheim Tornados in the German Bundesliga.
Alessandro Ciarla, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Ciarla just signed last spring with the Phillies, but he’s rumored to have been let go this June. He pitched 6 games last summer in the DSL. He is back with Nettuno.
Leonardo Colagrossi, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
He was released and is back with Nettuno in the Italian Baseball League.
Federico Giordani, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
He was released and is back with Nettuno in the Italian Baseball League.
MLB –
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
Gregorius is hitting an even .300 for the year with 10 home runs and 2 stolen bases, scoring 32 runs and knocking in 38 while hitting in the heart of the New York Yankees lineup.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler is 12 for 26 in July and is hitting .263 overall with 43 runs and 38 RBI. The Berlin native is the regular right fielder for the first place Twins.
Triple A –
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
Neverauskas has had two brief MLB call-ups this season, while continuing to pitch well in Triple-A waiting for the third call. He’s 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 5 saves in the last month. He’s pitched 36 innings in Indianapolis and 5 innings across 3 outings for Pittsburgh. He has 35 strikeouts and has allowed 35 hits and 14 walks in Triple-A, accumulating a 3.25 ERA.
Double-A
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Current team: Midland Rockhounds (AA)
Paz has five hits in his last 10 games, dropping his batting average to .236. Through 43 Double-A games, he’s slashing .236/.297/.250. He’s stolen 3 bases and has two doubles.
Single-A –
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A)
The Czech catcher is playing nearly every day in High-A, with his bat continuing to emerge. He has 2 home runs and 11 hits in his last 10 games, and is at .272/.334/.426 in 73 games overall. That includes 7 home runs, 25 extra base hits, and 64 strikeouts against 27 walks.
Sven Schüller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High-A)
Schuller earned a promotion last week to the high-A California League. He’s pitched to a 1.49 ERA in 48 Midwest League innings, and has allowed one hit in his single appearance with his new team.
Tom de Blok, Detroit Tigers. Netherlands.
Current team: West Michigan Whitecaps (Low-A)
De Blok has 32 strikeouts in 28 innings, pitching to a 1.29 ERA in his last 10 outings, his last four as a starter. He’s laying waste to the Midwest League, with an overall ERA of 1.00 and 34 strikeouts to 6 walks.
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Lexington Legends (Low-A)
Gasparini has 5 multi-hit games in his last 10 while hitting .359 and stealing two bases. In 76 games he’s now hitting .256/.308/.400 with 20 walks, 71 strikeouts, and 10 stolen bases in 19 attempts.
Alberto Mineo, Chicago Cubs. Italy.
Current team: South Bend Cubs (Low-A)
Mineo has an active 4-game hitting streak, and has 14 extra base hits in 61 games within his .277/.370/.355 slash line.
Rookie –
Petru Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Balan has made his first two professional appearances in Ft Myers, Florida. He has 5 walks, 7 strikeouts, 4 hits, and 4 runs allowed in 5.2 innings.
Vadim Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Petru’s older brother has pitched 5 times already in the first two weeks of the Gulf Coast League season. He’s 1-1 with 3 saves, 3 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 7.2 innings with no earned runs.
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: Bristol Pirates (rookie)
The catcher from Hoofddorp has 44 at bats in the Appalachian League, slashing .273/.347/.500 with two home runs, 5 walks, and 15 strikeouts in 11 games.
Taylor Clemensia, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
The Dutch lefty has 4 appearances , pitching 9.2 innings with 4 hits, 9 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA.
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Billings Mustangs (rookie)
Ljatifi was promoted to the Pioneer League, where he has one hit, two walks, and two strikeouts in his first five games. He’s now listed as a third baseman on MiLB after playing mostly shortstop the past two seasons in Arizona.
Matz Schutte, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
The righty from Almere has pitched three times, giving up 7 runs in 6.2 innings by allowing 5 hits and 7 walks, striking out four.
Pascal Amon, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
The Ingolstadt native has 5 hits in his last 3 games, and has played 9 games thus far in his first action in the US (after debuting in the Dominican Summer League last season). He has 7 hits, 3 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 31 at bats.
Ludovico Coveri, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies Red (rookie)
The 20 year old has 12 appearances over the last 5 weeks, throwing 24.1 innings with a 0.74 ERA and 4 saves. He has 17 strikeouts and four walks.
Anton Kuznetsov, Philadelphia Phillies. Russia.
Current team: GCL Phillies (rookie)
The Russian lefty has 3 appearances in his debut season, with 3 hits, 1 walk and seven strikeouts in his first 7.2 innings.
Marco van der Wijst, Houston Astros. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Astros Orange (rookie)
The Dominican born, Dutch raised infielder made his pro debut this week. He’s walked twice in seven plate appearances.
Yet to appear in 2017:
Claudio Scotti, Pittsburgh Pirates. Italy.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)
Aaron Altherr, Philadelphia Phillies, Germany.
Slashing .285/.356/.530 at the All Star break, he leads the team in batting and WAR (among hitters), and his second in home runs and RBI. (Those anecdotes mean little; the Phillies are awful, but the production has been good nonetheless.)