by DZ
The ups and downs of the baseball season continue. European big-leaguers Didi Gregorius and Max Kepler are playing well, solidifying their spots in the starting lineups as they develop. Lithuania was represented during the All-Star festivities in San Diego by Pirates Triple-A pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas. Catchers from the Czech Republic (Martin Cervenka), France (Andy Paz), and Italy (Alberto Mineo) were all promoted in the last two weeks. German national team pitchers Sven Schuller & Markus Solbach were in the transactions, as Schuller was promoted and Solbach, released this past offseason, re-signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On the down side, Italian outfielder Federico Celli’s career as a Dodger ended. Germany’s first big leaguer, Donald Lutz, still hasn’t found his swing after missing last season with an elbow injury.
MLB –
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
Gregorius has continued his hot spell at the plate, breaking a 5 game hitting streak in his first game back after the All-Star break. He is now hitting .298 for the year, with 11 home runs and 5 stolen bases while playing exceptional defense at shortstop for the Yankees. He has scored 38 runs and has 41 RBIs.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler hit a grand slam in the final game before the break, and had a multi-homer game the week before. He is playing every day and hitting .238 with 8 home runs and 2 stolen bases. He has 33 RBIs in only 47 MLB games.
Triple A –
Roger Bernadina, New York Mets. Netherlands.
Current team: Las Vegas 51s (AAA)
Bernadina has hit .343 over his last 10 games with Las Vegas. He has 27 extra base hits, 41 runs, 39 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 72 games/238 at bats. He’s now hitting .303/.385/.475.
Donald Lutz, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Louisville Bats (AAA)
Lutz continues to search for success at the plate, going 4 for his last 27. He’s hitting .196 with two home runs in 62 games.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Indianapolis Indians (AAA)
Neverauskas continued his ascent, pitching a scoreless 8th inning for the World Team in the MLB Futures Game. He has a 1.86 ERA in 11 Triple-A games. For the year, he has made 33 appearances, has 37 strikeouts and 13 walks, and an ERA of 2.39.
Double-A
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Current team: Midland Rockhounds (AA)
As the Athletics catching depth returned to health, Paz moved from Double-A back to single-A Beloit two weeks ago. As of yesterday, he returned to Double-A Midland carrying a three game hitting streak with him. Paz is hitting .263/.352/.337 in 30 games across 3 levels.
Single-A –
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A)
One week ago, Cervenka was promoted to High-A Lynchburg. He’s played four games there and has 6 hits (3 of them for extra bases). For the season he is hitting .234 with a .305 on-base average and 4 home runs.
Markus Solbach, Arizona Diamondbacks. Germany.
Current team: Visalia Rawhide (High-A)
Solbach pitched for Visalia in the second half of last season before being released this spring. He resigned earlier this month and has made two appearances totaling 5 innings for the Rawhide this week.
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: West Virginia Power (Low-A)
Arribas has five hits in his last 3 games; he continues to excel in everyday play as the Power’s primary catcher. In 84 games he is hitting .268/.384/.422. He has 9 home runs and is 6-for-7 stealing bases.
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Lexington Legends (Low-A)
Gasparini is hitting .286 in his last 10 games. He got off to a very slow start, but his success over the last month has his season numbers up to .202/.260/.328 in 72 games. The shortstop just turned 19 in May.
Alberto Mineo, Chicago Cubs. Italy.
Current team: South Bend Cubs (Low-A)
Mineo played a single game in Eugene before promotion to the South Bend Cubs. He played 3 games there, getting 3 hits, and was then placed on the Disabled List.
Class A (short season) –
Federico Celli, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Current team: Ogden Raptors (short-season A)
Released two games into the season.
Sven Schuller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: Ogden Raptors (short-A)
Schuller received a promotion to short-season Ogden after starting the year in the “complex league” in Arizona. He pitched his first inning at the new level two nights ago, giving up two runs. He had pitched 7 innings across four games in for the AZL Dodgers, giving up two runs.
Rookie –
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)
The Hoofddorp Pionier has played 11 games this season, hitting .237/.318/.289. He has four walks versus 19 strikeouts and has stolen a pair of bases.
Taylor Clemensia, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
The 19-year-old Amsterdam native has started three games, pitching 12 innings. He has allowed four hits, with 12 walks and 10 strikeouts. His ERA stands a 1.50
Nicolo Clemente, Boston Red Sox. Italy.
Current team: GCL Red Sox (rookie)
Clemente moved from the Dominican to the Gulf Coast League, and has pitched 8 innings in 5 games. He is 1-0 with two saves, allowing 5 runs on 4 walks and 12 hits while striking out 8.
Misja Harcksen, Los Angeles Dodgers. Netherlands.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
The Rotterdam product has a 2-0 record through seven appearances, with 8 hits and 3 walks against 16 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched.
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: AZL Reds (rookie)
Ljatifi, signed out of the Paderborn Academy, has played 8 games and has 7 hits, including a home run. He has walked once, struck out 8 times, and has a slash line of .219/.265/.344.
Matz Schutte, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Schutte is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in 6 games. He’s allowed 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Artur Strzalka, New York Yankees. Poland.
Current team: GCL Yankees West (rookie)
The first Polish signed player has four appearances and 7 innings pitched. He’s allowed 2 runs with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Pascal Amon, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 1 (rookie)
The Ingolstadt native has 30 games under his belt, hitting .202 with a .372 OBP. He’s stolen 3 bases in his last 10 games (and is 5-for-9 overall) and has more walks (22) than strikeouts (17).
Sam Buelens, Toronto Blue Jays. Belgium.
Current team: DSL Blue Jays (rookie)
The Antwerp native has 11 walks and 6 hits in 12 games this season. He’s also stolen 6 bases in 7 attempts. He has a slash line of .188/.422/.219.
Ludovico Coveri, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 1 (rookie)
Coveri made his pro debut in the DSL this week, appearing twice and pitching 4 innings. He has given up three hits and one run.
Rachid Engelhardt, Baltimore Orioles. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Orioles 1 (rookie)
Engelhardt is hitting .278/.357/.375 through his first 25 games. He has 8 walks, 10 strikeouts, and has stolen two bases in five attempts.
Federico Giordani, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 2 (rookie)
The infielder from Anzio has played 26 games, slashing .185/.320/.284 and has stolen four bases in eleven attempts. He’s had three hits in his last 10 games.
Yet to appear in 2016:
Vadim Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Alessandro Ciarla, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 2 (rookie)
Leonardo Colagrossi, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Current team: DSL Phillies 1 (rookie)
On the 60-day Disabled List
Ramon Rosso, Los Angeles Dodgers. Spain.
Current team: DSL Dodgers 1 (rookie)
Claudio Scotti, Pittsburgh Pirates. Italy.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)