A third Dutch players has signed with the Houston Astros. After Jan Baldee and Stijn van der Meer, infielder Oliver Van der Wijst Severino picked up a minor-league contract with the MLB organization. The 19-year-old probably would have signed already in previous years, but instead decided to finish school.
In the Dutch Hoofdklasse he made his debut with L&D Amsterdam and later also played for Kinheim. Last fall he transferred to the Hoofddorp Pioniers for the 2017 season. Last summer he won the U18 European Championship with the Netherlands in Spain.
The Houston Astros first showed their interest during last summer’s MLB Elite Camp in Regensburg. He then also was invited to the MLB World Select Team and a try out in the Dominican Republic.