The SOLINGEN ALLIGATORS announced on Monday that Nils Hartkopf joins the northern Baseball-Bundesliga club for the 2010 season. He will leave the MAINZ ATHLETICS after three years to return to the team, where he made his Bundesliga debut in 2003. The 23-year-old is going to continue to play the infield, but will also strengthen the pitching staff.
In 2009 Hartkopf had a 3-5 record with an ERA of 3.53 in ten games (nine starts) for the A’s, striking out 65 batters in 51 innings, while walking 30. At the plate he batted .236 (OBP .333/SLG .278) with five runs scored and five RBI in 87 plate appearances over 23 games. He also was on the roster for the German national team during the 2009 Baseball World Cup, striking out the only batter he faced.