by Ty Eriksen
With the rest of Europe’s minor-leaguers kicking off their season in Class A ball around the US, here is a recap of how the EU’s baseball exports have represented their home countries so far this season:
Belgium
Thomas De Wolf (DSL Mets) Hitting .207 with 10 RBI and 13 R through 20 games in the Dominican Summer League.
Czech Republic
Jan Rehacek (GCL Twins) Returns to the team for a second season in the GCL.
Matej Hejma (GCL Twins) The 20-year old is starting his second season with the team.
Stepan Havlicek (Rays organization) Signed with TB earlier this year, and will spend this summer in camps in the US and Australia. Look to see him start his professional career next summer after completing school back in the Czech Republic.
France
Frederic Hanvi (GCL Twins) Now in this third season with the GCL Twins, the catcher/outfielder will look to earn more time with the club.
Germany
Kai Gronauer (Savannah Sand Gnats) Germany’s highest baseball representative is hitting .267 at Class A, with 2 HR and 23 RBI in his 50 games, helping his team win the first half championship in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division.
Donald Lutz (Billings Mustangs) Moved up from the GCL Reds this off-season, and hit a home run while coming up a 2B short of the cycle in his first game in Montana.
Max Kepler-Rozycki (GCL Twins) Made his pro debut on Monday, going 3 for 5, with a 2B, 3 RBI and a run scored.
Jennell Hudson (GCL Red Sox) Injured and on rehab assignment, hopes to be back sometime this summer.
Italy
Alex Liddi (West Tenn Diamond Jaxx) Hitting .290 with 6 HR and 51 RBI in Double A for the Mariners farm team.
Alessandro Maestri (Tennessee Smokies) The RHP is 2-3 with 2 saves and 3 holds in a team-leading 25 relief appearances.
Luca Martone (GCL Astros) The young infielder is looking to make a big splash in his first season of ball in the States.
Luca Panerati (Dayton Dragons) On DL to start the year, but after an up and down ‘09 in Billings, Luca moves to Dayton in hopes that a change of scenery will translate to run-support and better defense behind him.
Andrea Lucati (Greenville Astros) Will start the ’10 campaign back at Greenville, with a focus on continuing his 8.4 K/9IP but improving his 1.92 WHIP.
Lithuania
Dovydas Neverauskas (GCL Pirates) Signed with Pittsburgh and should make his debut in the Sunshine State over the next week.
Netherlands
Gregory Halman (Tacoma Rainiers) Showing success at AAA, hitting .233 with 11 HR and 27 RBI’s , including a 2-homer 4-RBI performance last week.
Rick van den Hurk (New Orleans Zephyrs) The RHP is 4-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 12 starts, as well as 2 appearances in The Show with the Marlins (1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1K).
Loek van Mil (New Britain Rock Cats) Sports a nice 1.17 ERA in 2010, across limited time in New Britain and Fort Meyers.
Mike Bolsenbroek (Lakewood BlueClaws) Moved up from the NY-Penn League to the South Atlantic League this year as he looks to continue his strong relief performances.
Mariekson Gregorius (Dayton Dragons) In his first year in the Midwest League, Gregorius has hit .280, 4, 27 in 63 games; impressive considering he had one career HR entering the season.
Kalian Sams (Clinton LumberKings) Was a late call-up to the ‘Kings in 2009, and has 13 HR and 10 2B (but a .188 average) in 55 games so far this year.
Tom Stuifbergen (Beloit Snappers) The MWL All-Star has dominated when healthy: 4-0, 1.47 ERA, 36 K, 36.2 IP.
Daan Cornelissen (GCL Pirates) One of the Pirates new signees, the outfielder struggled at the plate in his first pro game with 2 K’s, but reached on a walk and later scored.
Jeroen de Haas (AZL Mariners) The tall RHP will demonstrate his potential back in the AZL this year.
Swen Huijer (GCL Red Sox) Huijer prepares for season three in the Boston organization. Last year had an amazing 20 to 1 K/BB ratio.
Rien Vernooij (GCL Mets) Regressed after moving to the GCL in 2009, posting a .477 OPS with just 2 extra-base hits in 27 games.
Björn Hato (DSL Mets) Showing patience in the Caribbean thus far: hitting .429 (6-14) with 10 BB in 8 games.
Ruben Rijkhof (DSL Braves) The Dutch/Spanish outfielder starts his pro career in the Dominican Republic for the Braces.
Kevin Weijgertse (DSL Mets) Currently 1 for 12 in his first season, but has shown speed on the basepaths.
Sidney Ponson (Long Island Ducks) Struggled with the KC Royals in ’09. Moves over to the Atlantic League, likely signaling an end his 12 year MLB career. Coasting along with a 4-5 record and 6.45 ERA for the Ducks.
Russia
Andrei Lobanov (Fort Myers Miracle) One of the Twins Top 50 prospects, the LHP has been a steady arm out of the pen for the Miracle. 1-0, 1.88 ERA, 21 K, 24 IP.
Spain
Alejandro Sanchez (GCL Braves) In his first season in the GCL with the Braves.
Eric Gonzalez (Lake Elsinore Storm) Back in Lake Elsinore, where he made 24 appearances out of the pen for the Storm last year. Hit hard so far in 2010, with an OAVE of .436 in 7.2 IP.
Deoin Galvan (DSL Braves) Has been a defensive replacement primarily. Got his first start and his first career hit over the weekend.
Roberto Machado (DSL Braves) One of three Spanish rookies in the DSL with the Braves.
Victor Velazquez (DSL Braves) The catcher has seen limited time thus far in the Dominican Summer League.