Four players from Rotterdam signed contracts with MLB-organizations. Third baseman Rien VERNOOIJ (18 years old) and pitcher Tjerk HOGERVORST (16) each signed with the New York Mets, second baseman Dwayne KEMP with the Chicago Cubs, third baseman Jan BALDEE (16) with the Houston Astros.
Pitcher Tim ROODENBURG (18) got a tryout in the instructional league in the Dominican Republic for the New York Yankees.
Ramon ROMEIJIN received a contract with the Seattle Mariners at the beginning of 2007.
If these utterly promising guys would not have been sent away but nourished by the ill-advised Neptunus big-mouthed amateurs – West Rotterdam baseball might smoothly have sailed towards the championships. Instead it continues to strenghten the image as a 30plus old folks home with the acquisition of good-old Eugene Kingsale.
If first four out of above five talents were signed when playing for Sparta/Feyenoord, second club in Rotterdam, why does not this club appear on your ranking of best clubs in Europe? This ranking should include, in my view, all major league clubs in Holland and Italy. Pioniers Hoofddorp deserves high ranking in Europe, since winning Cup Winners Cup 2006 and finalist in Dutch play-offs 2006 and 2007, beating Neptunus in each year’s semi-finales. Good luck with your European promotion effort.