The Dutch Major League team, which finished in fifth place after the regular season and missed the playoffs, signed two big names in European baseball. They will welcome pitchers Adam SOWELL and Fernando GUTIERREZ.
The American SOWELL played for the Karlskoga Bats and won the Swedish championship. The 28-year-old right-hander was named MVP of the league after dominating all year long. He had a perfect 14-0 record with an ERA of 1.78. He struck out 78 in 101 innings pitched. He also hit .345 with 14 doubles and 32 RBI.
GUTIERREZ is a Venezuelan reliever with a Spanish passport. He played for the Spanish champion Marlins Puerto Cruz in 2007. He pitched for the national team at the European championships and the Baseball World Cup. He is 27 and also right-handed. He posted a 4-1 record with a 2.27 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched, striking out 58. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles organisation as an amateur free agent and a catcher prior to the 1998 season. He switched to the mound two years later and climbed the ladder up to low-A ball. In two years minor leagues he appeared in 39 games with an ERA of 4.31. He struck out 56 in 52.2 innings pitched.
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March 20, 2008 | 6:49 am
[...] Joe ROVIROSA and Shawn VANCE wouldn’t return again to play for the Karlskoga Bats in 2008. Pitcher Adam SOWELL and infielder Shawn VANCE both signed contracts to play in the Dutch league, and catcher/of Joe [...]