We are taking a look back at the 2011 season in the Minor Leagues for our European prospects.
Kai Gronauer
Birth Date: 11/28/1986 in Solingen, Germany
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Organization: New York Mets
Position: Catcher
2011 Season: Except for some rehab time in the Gulf Coast League following a lengthy hamstring injury the 25-year-old German catcher Kai Gronauer spent the summer with the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets in Binghamton of the Eastern League. He batted a solid .251/.327/.374 overall in 58 games (52 at Double-A). He hit four homeruns, one triple, eight doubles, scored 21 runs and drove in 26. He didn’t make another huge step forward, but also not back. During the IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama he only was able to impress defensively, remaining cold at the plate. He stayed in Panama City to play in the Winter League for month to make up for the missed time during the summer. 2012 should be a key year for Gronauer determining if he can make it to the big leagues or not.
Career Stats: 229 GP, 878 PA, 784 AB, 93 R, 14 HR, 102 RBI, 60 BB, 146 SO, AVG .272, OBP .336, SLG .370
Highest Level: Double-A (2011)
Link to Baseball Reference
Previous:
Jennell Hudson (Boston Red Sox)
Andy Paz (Oakland Athletics)
Bjorn Hato (New York Mets)
Alejandro Sanchez (Atlanta Braves)
Thomas de Wolf (New York Mets)
Andrea Pizziconi (Kansas City Royals)
Rodney Daal (San Diego Padres)
Ruben Rijkhof (Atlanta Braves)
Lars Huijer (Seattle Mariners)
Markus Solbach (Minnesota Twins)
Kevin Weijgertse (New York Mets)
Matej Hejma (Minnesota Twins)
Scott Ronnenbergh (Seattle Mariners)
Kalian Sams (Seattle Mariners)
Victor Velazquez (Atlanta Braves)
Dovydas Neverauskas (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Nick Urbanus (Texas Rangers)
Jeroen de Haas (Seattle Mariners)
Luca Martone (Houston Astros)
Luca Panerati (Cincinnati Reds)
Swen Huijer (Boston Red Sox)
Daan Cornelissen (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Max Kepler-Rozycki (Minnesota Twins)
Donald Lutz (Cincinnati Reds)
Mariekson Gregorius (Cincinnati Reds)
Tom Stuifbergen (Minnesota Twins)
Loek van Mil (Los Angeles Angels)