For the tenth time Major League Baseball is holding its European Elite Camp from July 30 to August 13. 49 players from 12 different countries have been invited to Tirrenia, Italy, where the training camp is held this year.
For the first time a Swiss player is invited with outfielder Sven Leeman. German shortstop Nadir Ljatifi, who is signing with the Cincinnati Reds, is attending as well. German outfielder Vincent Helget got scratched due to an injury.
The players got invited by Major League Baseball for the European Elite Camp following the Academies Tournament in spring and a series of tryouts throughout of Europe. A minicamp was already held in Hoofddorp last month with a focus on hitting and pitching. In Tirrenia they receive top notch coaching and get the opportunity to play instructional league like games.
The coaching staff at this year’s European Elite Camp features Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, former Major League All-Star Steve Finley, former big league manager John McLaren, former MLB outfielder Fernando Perez, Greg Swindell, Stephen Larkin and Mike Larson.
Most of the European players, which are now playing in the Major or Minor Leagues have been to a European Elite Camp in the past. Alex Liddi (Italy, currently Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A) and Donald Lutz (Germany, currently Cincinnati Reds MLB) became the first players from there to make it to the big leagues in recent years.
Roster:
Pitchers
- Balandis, Marius (RHP) – Lithuania
- Barchetta, Alberto (RHP) – Italy
- Bocchi, Matteo (RHP) – Italy
- Ciarla, Alessandro (RHP) – Italy
- Desmedt, Kevin (RHP) – Belgium
- Fabiani, Diego (RHP) – Italy
- Gollan, Daniel (RHP) – Germany
- Horvatic, Antonio (RHP) – Croatia
- Koch, Sascha (RHP) – Germany
- Kraternik, Darko (RHP) – Croatia
- Koviac, Franko (RHP, OF) – Croatia
- Quattrini, Gabriele (RHP) – Italy
- Reitter, Wolfgang (LHP) – Germany
- Satoria, Ondrej (RHP) – Czech Republic
- Schutte, Matz (RHP) – Netherlands
- Van den Heuvel, Jordy (LHP) – Belgium
- Verdonk, Dylan (RHP) – Netherlands
- Wicklert, Angelo (RHP) – Netherlands
- Wojtczak, Jakub (RHP) – Poland
Catchers
- Colagrossi, Leonardo (C, 3B) – Italy
- Fretheim, Jonathan (C) – Great Britain
- Heimler, Jonathan (C) – Germany
- Marinig, Elia (C) – Italy
- Mensik, Lukas (C) – Czech Republic
- Prins, Ruben (C) – Netherlands
- Soliveres, Nolan (C) – France
- Tomic, Andrija (C, OF) – Croatia
- Van Hoek, Rowan (C) – Netherlands
Corner Infielders
- Claus, Filip (3B) – Czech Republic
- Clemensia, Taylor (1B) – Netherlands
- Holmelund, Tobias (1B, OF) – Denmark
- Kalabek, Martin (3B, RHP) – Czech Republic
- Spruit, Friso (1B) – Netherlands
- Thieben, Oliver (1B) – Germany
Middle Infielders
- Dickman, Lucas (MI, RHP) – Germany
- Draijer, Max (MI) – Netherlands
- Ljatifi, Nadir (SS, 3B) – Germany
- Mensik, Vojtech (MI) – Czech Republic
- Pizzolini, Matteo (MI) – Italy
- Sacasa, Nino (MI) – Germany
- Smola, Filip (MI) – Czech Republic
- Van der Weijst Severino, Marco (MI) – Netherlands
Outfielders
- Amon, Pascal (OF) – Germany
- Berkhout, Chiel (OF) – Netherlands
- Brands, Paul (OF) – Netherlands
- Giordani, Federico (OF) – Italy
- Leeman, Sven (OF) – Switzerland
- Massari, Giorgio (OF) – Italy
Utility
- Walter, Frederic (UTIL) – France
MLB Coaching Staff:
- Barry Larkin
- Steve Finley
- Greg Swindell
- John McLaren
- Fernando Perez
- Stephen Larkin
- Mike Larson