Rogier van Zon mentions a few transactions in the Dutch Hoofdklasse on Honkbalsite.com. The Pioniers, which started with just three wins in its first ten games, are replacing Nelson Santander with national team hurler Arshwin Asjes. In other news shortstop Mitchell Graham leaves the Magpies.
Asjes originally was supposed to play for the Oakland County Cruisers of the Frontier League, but problems with his visa stopped him from traveling to the United States. Obviously the independent league club now voided his contract and the right-hander, who made his debut for the Dutch team during the Baseball World Cup, joins the Hoofdklasse. Santander had only an ERA of 6.35 in four appearances for Konica Minolta. He is returning to Venezuela after a possible transfer to Almere didn’t go through.
The Magpies on the other hand are losing one of their better players with Graham. The Australian batted an unimpressive .235 (OBP .297/SLG .353) with three runs and four RBI in nine games. But he had his clutch moments. During the three wins of Almere so far, he drove in the winning run twice, including a walk-off single against Kinheim and scored the decisive run once.