Czech outfielder Marek Chlup debuted with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association yesterday, going a combined 2-for-6 with a run scored and one RBI in both games of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Milkmen. The Czech baseball website milujeme-baseball.com had reported the transaction yesterday after Chlup, who competed with the Czech national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and won the 2022 NCAA Division II national championship with North Greenville University, had left his Czech Extraliga club Eagles Prague.
Chlup joins the DockHounds as one of the most promising European baseball talents. In 158 games over three seasons with North Greenville, he slashed .357/.461/.657, with 43 doubles and 38 homers. He also stole 58 bases in his career, going a perfect 20-for-20 in 2023. He was the Conference Carolina’s Player of the Year in North Greenville’s championship season, with All-American accolades to boot.
On the biggest stage of his career at this year’s World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, Chlup, who was nicknamed “The Machine” by his North Greenville teammates, went 4-for-12 with three RBI as the Czechs qualified for the tournament’s next edition.
What’s more, the outfielder opened eyes when he drove a 102-mph fastball by Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki for a double. According to Statcast, the ball came off his bat at 109 mph.
Despite the impressive resume, Chlup went undrafted last month and now has the remaining 32 games on the American Association schedule to convince an MLB organization to extend him a contract.
After yesterday’s games, the DockHounds have a 33-35 record, good for fifth in the American Association’s East Division.