The HSV Stealers announced their first series of transactions prior to the 2013 season. Michael Franke and Henry Guillermo will join the club from Hamburg. The 31-year-old Franke is coming from the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe, where he spent 2012 following nine years with the Untouchables Paderborn. Now he is back in the northern division.
The 38-year-old Guillermo already played in the German Baseball-Bundesliga from 1995 to 2000. In the last eight years he played in Italy. He also played professionally for the Texas Rangers organization and the Japanese club Toyo Carp. He has moved to Hamburg because of work-related reasons and will coach the second-division team of the Stealers as well.
Additionally head coach Jens Hawlitzky welcomes back Eric Krysiak for a second straight season. Meanwhile Tony Peraza (signed a pro contract in Mexico) and Craig Pycock won’t be back.