by Pim Van Nes
Wladimir BALENTIEN (23 years old) may have had the most impressive start in early spring games of Major League clubs in Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, but he was not the only Dutch player in action during the first weekend of American spring season. Also pitchers Jair JURRJENS (22) and Rick VANDEN HURK (22), infielders Hainley STATIA (22) and Yurendell DE CASTER (28) and outfielder Rogear BERNADINA (23) and Andruw JONES (30) appeared already on the mounds and in the boxes last weekend.
In September last year BALENTIEN was promoted from Triple A to the Major Leagues by his Seattle Mariners and debuted as pinch hitter for three late season games, finishing with a batting average of .667. On February 29 he returned among the other selected big leaguers of the Mariners to spring training and performed extremely well in his second game on March 1. As a substitute for the starting right fielder, BALENTIEN used his first at bat for a solo homerun (6-4 for Seattle) and his third at bat in the ninth inning for a tying two run homerun (10-10). However, in the bottom of the ninth the San Diego Padres still scored the go-ahead run. BALENTIEN, starting as right fielder in game three, produced an RBI double in the first half of the game versus the Oakland Athletics.
Before John SMOLTZ and Tom GLAVINE it was Jair JURRJENS to take the mound for the Braves in their first game. This was the Atlanta debut for the Dutchman, whose first appearance in the Major Leagues was last year with the Detroit Tigers. As from August 15 he started in seven games, losing the first in Cleveland and winning his second start against the Indians in his first home game, completing the season with three wins and a loss. Last weekend as a Brave he faced the Los Angeles Dodgers with the Dutch ex-Brave Andruw JONES in the dugout. In his two innings Jurrjens conceded one run out of a single and a double, but one Dodger was struck out and five grounded out. After nine innings the Braves won by 10-3, with a no-decision for JURRJENS.
Rick VANDEN HURK, impressive in his Major League debut last year coming from Single A games only, re-appeared with the Florida Marlins after 17 starts in 18 games as an aggressive pitcher in 2007 with 82 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched, one of the highest averages in the Majors and the highest for a rookie. This year VANDEN HURK worked as a reliever in two innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up one on two hits and the Marlins lost by 5-7. Their president Jeffrey LORIA, however, wants a new stadium in Miami fit for an All Star Game and to participate in future World Baseball Classic hosting. Who knows VANDEN HURK once will play in his home stadium representing Netherlands colours in WBC version number three.
The other Dutch players in present spring originate from Minor League games last year. The first in action was shortstop Hainley STATIA called up from Single A by the Los Angeles Angels after his strong defensive work as Dutch international in Barcelona and Taiwan last fall. In his spring game debut 2008 he participated as a substitute in a team coming back from 0-2 behind against the Texas Rangers celebrating a 3-2 victory. On Tuesday STATIA shared in the Angels productivity as a substitute versus the Chicago White Sox. His double in the seventh inning drove in the tying run (5-5) and later scored from second base, to put Los Angeles in front. Chicago decided the game to their favour by two runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Washington Nationals featured the phenomenon of two Dutch players in one and the same game with Yurendell DE CASTER on third base and Rogear BERNADINA in center field, but Baltimore Orioles beat them by 4-1.
by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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