Lars Huijer ends professional career, returns to Vaessen Pioniers

While fellow Dutch Minor Leaguer Nick Urbanus got released, Lars Huijer is ending his professional career voluntarily. He also was ranked on the inaugural edition of Mister-Baseball’s European Top 15 Minor Leaguers, following Max Kepler and Marten Gasparini in third place.

Huijer is a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from Haarlem, Netherlands. He said farewell to pro ball during the weekend due to the career uncertainty involved as a minor league player. This winter he was traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Chicago Cubs.

It was expected that he moves up another level similar to the last couple of seasons. He debuted for the Mariners organization in 2011 in the Arizona Summer League. Except for 2012 he was mainly used as a starting pitcher. Through four seasons he went 15-14 with an ERA of 4.33 in 68 games (40 starts). He struck out 167 and walked 100 in 243 innings.

Huijer will now return to the Netherlands to play for the Vaessen Pioniers. Besides playing in Hoofddorp he also will return to school to pursue a career off the field as well. His brother Swen Huijer was a player in the Boston Red Sox organization before returning to Europe.