Honkbalsite.com reports on Sunday that the Seattle Mariners have signed the 17-year-old Dutch right-handed pitcher Lars Huijer of the Vaessen Pioniers to a minor league contract. Huijer debuted in the Dutch Hoofdklasse last summer. This season he is one of three starting pitchers for the Pioniers besides Conrad Orman and Eddie Aucoin. In seven starts he has a 2-2 record with an ERA of 5.67. He has struck out 14 batters in 33 1/3 innings, walking twelve.
His older brother Swen Huijer signed a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox organization three years ago. Lars Huijer was also part of the Dutch Junior National Team, which played at the 18U Baseball World Championship in Canada last year. He is already the fourth player of this group after Nick Urbanus (Texas Rangers), Rodney Daal (San Diego Padres) and Danny Arribas (Pittsburgh Pirates) to sign a contract with a Major League organization.
