The Italian Baseball League club Danesi Nettuno has added Lino Connell (picture, left) to the 2010 roster. It is going to be his third Italian team for the 37-year-old infielder. He came to the IBL in 2007, joining Fortitudo Bologna for two years before moving on to De Angelis Godo, where he played last year. He began his professional baseball career with the California Angels organization and later played eight seasons in Independent Leagues and five in the Mexican League.
Since coming to Europe Connell is hitting .338 (OBP .434/SLG .455) with eleven homeruns, 87 runs and 75 RBI in 126 games. Last September he led the Venezuelan national team with a batting average of .347 (OBP .467/SLG .408) in 13 games during the Baseball World Cup. Together with his new teammate Jeff Farnsworth, he played in the 2009/2010 Venezuelan Winter League for Caribes de Anzoategui (.222/.286/.333 in 21 GP).
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth www.eisenhuth-photographie.de