Until the end of last week, MLB organizations had to file the reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels and two players from the Dutch national team were added to the 40-man rosters and with that got an invitation to the big league spring training next year. The Minnesota Twins added Loek van Mil to the Major League roster. The Los Angeles Dodgers did the same thing with Kenley Jansen. Both players now are also protected in the Rule-5-Draft, which will be held during the winter meetings in Indianapolis next month.
Van Mil had a combined 1-1 record and an ERA of 2.79 for the High-A and Double-A affiliates of the Twins with 28 strikeouts (23 walks) in 42 games. He had a delayed start into the season due to an elbow injury. Jansen played an important role during the World Baseball Classic as a catcher, throwing out Willy Taveras at third in the ninth inning of their upset win over the Dominican Republic. However the Dodgers had different plans and converted him to a pitcher during the season. He even pitched in the Arizona Fall League the last couple of weeks.
With Van Mil and Jansen, currently a total of eight players, which are eligible to play for the Dutch National Team are on 40-man rosters of Major League organizations. Shairon Martis, Roger Bernadina (Nationals), Gregory Halman (Mariners), Wladimir Balentien (Reds), Rick van den Hurk (Marlins) and Jair Jurrjens (Braves) also will have a chance to compete for the big leagues in next year’s spring training.