Mister Baseball

Starting Pitcher Rick Van den Hurk was send back into the minors, following his recent start on Sunday against the Cubs, in which he went 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, five runs and two walks, striking out six. He was optioned to the AAA team in Albuquerque. On July 21 he was called up by the Florida Marlins to start in place of the injured Andrew Miller and struck out seven in five no-hit innings versus the Atlanta Braves. Now he gets removed from the rotation again, as Anibal Sanchez is coming back to start for the Marlins on Thursday.

Van den Hurk made the major league roster out of spring training, but got demoted after his second start of the year, went on to the disabled list and had to pitch for the AA team in Carolina after his recovery. In ten starts there he posted a 3-3 record with an ERA of 4.23 and 55 strikeouts (19 walks) in 55.1 innings pitched. Now he needs to prove himself again, though this time at the AAA level. It is likely that he gets another call up in September, when the team can expand their rosters.