by DZ
All current major or minor league players developed in European baseball are listed here. The full season minor leagues are underway. A great number of young players remain in extended spring training and will begin compiling official statistics in about a month, when the short-season rookie leagues begin play.
Before we begin, let’s take a minute to recognize a number of players whose professional careers in MLB systems have, at least temporarily, come to an end.
Released or retired since September 2014 (highest level achieved):
Kai Gronauer, Germany (AAA)
Lars Huijer, Netherlands (high-A)
Federico Castagnini, Italy (single-A)
Rodney Daal, Netherlands (single-A, with one at bat in Triple-A)
Nick Urbanus, Netherlands (single-A)
Davide Anselmi, Italy (rookie)
Jakub Izold, Slovakia (rookie)
Mattia Mercuri, Italy (rookie)
Alex Roy, France (rookie)
Daniel Thieben, Germany (rookie)
Daniel Vavrusa, Czech Republic (rookie)
On to the active players, and their recent results…
MLB –
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
Gregorius was part of an offseason trade that sent him from the Diamondbacks to the Yankees, where he’s taken over the everyday shortstop position. He’s hitting .212 with 7 runs, 7 RBI, and three stolen bases.
Triple A –
Roger Bernadina, Colorado Rockies. Netherlands.
Current team: Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA)
Thirty-year old Bernadina switched parent clubs in the offseason, from the Dodgers to the Rockies, but remains in Albuquerque with their change in affiliation. He’s hitting .250 through his first 20 games, with 4 stolen bases and an OBP of .400.
Donald Lutz, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Louisville Bats (AAA)
Lutz got in 13 games at Triple-A before hurting his right (throwing) arm and requiring Tommy John surgery. He’s likely out for the remainder of the season. He had 5 walks, 10 strikeouts and 8 hits in that short span.
Double A –
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Chattanooga Lookouts (High-A)
Outfielder and Berlin native Kepler started the year back in Fort Myers at High-A, but after six games he was promoted to Double-A. Kepler has had 3 multi-hit games in his last 5, and is now hitting .304 for the year across both levels. He’s added 10 extra base hits and has 6 stolen bases without being caught. The 22-year old is already on the 40-man roster of the Twins.
Alex Liddi, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)
Liddi changed organizations again this winter, after playing in 3 uniforms in 2014. In 28 games thus far, the 26-year old Italian is hitting .257 with 5 home runs, adding 6 walks, 25 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases in 105 at bats.
High-A –
Alberto Mineo, Chicago Cubs. Italy.
Current team: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A)
The 20-year old Italian backstop got four games with the Pelicans over the past month, but has since been reassigned (presumably to extended spring training to play in a short-season league). Mineo held his own in a small sample, getting two hits and scoring 5 runs in his 11 plate appearances.
Single-A –
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Lake County Captains (A)
The 22-year old Kotlarka product has an active five-game hitting streak. In 14 games and 46 at bats, Cervenka is hitting .239 with 3 walks and 10 strikeouts. The fact that he’s holding his own offensively in a full season league bodes well for the defensive stalwart.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: West Virginia Power (A)
The 22-year old Lithuanian righty has returned to the starting rotation in West Virginia, where he threw for all of 2014. In 6 games (5 of them starts), Neverauskas is 1-2 with a 6.85 ERA. He’s pitched 22.1 innings, allowing 17 walks while striking out 17.
Markus Solbach, Arizona Diamondbacks. Germany.
Current team: Kane County Cougars (A)
The Dormagen native has made 6 starts in the regular season, going at least 5 innings in each. He has a 2-2 record and a 3.09 ERA through 35 innings, with 13 walks and 19 strikeouts.
Yet to appear in 2015:
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Finished 2014 with: Bristol Pirates (rookie)
Federico Celli, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Finished 2014 with: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Maik Ehmcke, Arizona Diamondbacks. Germany.
Finished 2014 with: Missoula Osprey (rookie)
Rachid Engelhardt, Baltimore Orioles. Netherlands.
Finished 2014 with: DSL Orioles 1 (rookie)
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie)
Misja Harcksen, Los Angeles Dodgers. Netherlands.
Finished 2014 with: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Julsan Kamara, Philadelphia Phillies. Germany.
Finished 2014 with: DSL Phillies (rookie)
Marek Minarik, Pittsburgh Pirates. Czech Republic.
Finished 2014 with: Jamestown Jammers (rookie)
Jan Novak, Baltimore Orioles. Czech Republic.
Finished 2014 with: DSL Orioles (rookie)
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Finished 2014 with: AZL Athletics (rookie)
Milan Post, Milwaukee Brewers. Netherlands.
Finished 2014 with: AZL Brewers (rookie)
Sven Schuller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Finished 2014 with: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Joel Valera, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Finished 2014 with: DSL Dodgers (rookie)
Ruar Verkerk, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Finished 2014 with: GCL Twins (rookie)
Signed, but have yet to debut in official competition:
Sam Buelens, Toronto Blue Jays. Belgium.
Nicolo Clemente, Boston Red Sox. Italy.
Federico Giordani, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Matz Schutte, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Artur Strzalka, New York Yankees. Poland.
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates, Netherlands.
If readers notice any players that have signed out of Europe or were part of European youth/ development programs that aren’t listed, please let us know.