by DZ
All current major or minor league players developed in European baseball are listed here. The big news this time around is the addition of Germany’s Donald Lutz within the MLB edition after he was called up for the first time in 2014 (he spent nearly two months as a reserve outfielder in the major leagues last season) as Joey Votto went on the disabled list. That the two current European major leaguers are with the Cincinnati Reds insists a tribute to Jim Stoeckel, longtime international scout and former national team manager of the Netherlands and France.
Also of note, Alex Liddi was released from AAA by the Chicago White Sox, but a few days later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has appeared the last two days with their own Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes. He’s reunited as a Dodger with international director Bob Engle, who served in a similar role with the Seattle Mariners when Liddi first signed out of Italy.
MLB-
Roger Bernadina, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Current team: Cincinnati Reds.
After noting Bernadina was designated for assignment in the last post three weeks ago, he cleared waivers, was recalled, and was only away from the big league field for four days. He’s had 2 hits in 17 at bats since rejoining the big league squad, and now he’s joined in Cincinnati by fellow European Donald Lutz.
Donald Lutz, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Cincinnati Reds.
The news has been hot and heavy for the former Bad Homberg Hornet & Regensburg Legionnaere over the past three weeks. Less than 10 days ago, he was promoted from Double-A Pensacola to Triple-A Louisville, after hitting .360 in 23 games. 15 Triple-A at bats later, including his first home run at that level, yesterday he received the call to the Major League team, as earlier reported by mister-baseball.com [insert link to call-up article].
Triple A-
Didi Gregorius, Arizona Diamondbacks. Netherlands.
Current team: Reno Aces (AAA)
Gregorius is hitting .341 over his last 10 games, raising his season average to .309. He has 19 extra base hits to go along with his sparkling .395 on base percentage while playing shortstop. He’s been rumored in various trade scenarios, but continues to make the case for another major league chance, be it in Arizona or elsewhere.
Kai Gronauer, New York Mets. Germany.
Current Team: Las Vegas 51’s (AAA)
Kai played 3 games, with two doubles in 13 at bats, before returning to the disabled list. His lack of health is unfortunate, as the Mets starting catcher is currently struggling with a concussion. He’s now appeared in 9 games this season.
Alex Liddi, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy.
Current team: Albequerque Isotopes (AAA)
Liddi is one-for-six as a minor league Dodger. He’s hitting .171 for the year, with 3 home runs.
Single A-
Federico Castagnini, Baltimore Orioles. Italy.
Current team: Delmarva Shorebirds (A)
Castagnini is hitting .233 in his last 10 games, with an on-base of .342. Through 70 at bats, he’s hitting .229/.317/.243 with 8 runs scored.
Lars Huijer, Seattle Mariners. Netherlands.
Current team: Clinton LumberKings (A)
Huijer had two strong starts over the last 3 weeks, but his numbers are skewed by a stinker on May 20th, when he lasted less than two innings. Despite that outing in the early going, he maintains a 2-2 record and 3.96 ERA for the season, with 31 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings (10 outings, 6 starts).
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Fort Myers Miracle (High-A)
The Berlin native, with Lutz a Regensburg Academy product, is hitting .188 through his lat 10 games. He’s at .211 through 37 games overall, stealing 2 bases, hitting 2 home runs and 4 triples while scoring 18 runs and knocking in 18 RBI.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: West Virginia Power (A)
Neverauskas is in the regular starting rotation in West Virginia, making three relatively strong starts without a decision in the last 3 weeks. Overall, he remains 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA. He has struck out 25 and walked 17 in 36 innings (8 games, 8 starts).
Andy Paz, Oakland Athletics. France.
Current team: Beloit Snappers (A)
In Andy’s last game (on the 21st), he went 3-for-4, with two doubles and a walk, scoring twice and knocking in three runs. That raised his season numbers to .158/.279/.193. He’s splitting time behind the plate, having played 18 games so far in Wisconsin.
Short season A –
Nick Urbanus, Texas Rangers. Netherlands.
Current team: Spokane Indians (Short Season A)
Urbanus hit .181 with 21 strikeouts against 4 walks in A-ball for the Hickory Crawdads before being reassigned. He’ll restart with the short-season club in Washington state in a couple of weeks.
Yet to appear (officially) in 2014 –
Davide Anselmi, Cincinnati Reds. Italy.
Current team: AZL Reds (rookie)
Daniel Arribas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Pirates (rookie)
Federico Celli, Los Angeles Dodgers. Italy
Current team: TBD
Martin Cervenka, Cleveland Indians. Czech Republic.
Current team: Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short-season A)
Rodney Daal, San Diego Padres. Netherlands.
Current team: Fort Wayne Tincaps (A)
Maik Ehmcke, Arizona Diamondbacks. Germany.
Current team: TBD
Rachid Engelhardt, Baltimore Orioles. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Orioles
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: TBD
Misja Harcksen, Los Angeles Dodgers. Netherlands.
Current team: TBD
Jakub Izold, Cincinnati Reds. Slovakia.
Current team: AZL Reds (rookie)
Julsan Kamara, Philadelphia Phillies. Germany.
Current team: TBD
Mattia Mercuri, Atlanta Braves. Italy.
Current team: GCL Braves (rookie)
Marek Minarik, Pittsburgh Pirates. Czech Republic.
Current team: TBD
Alberto Mineo, Chicago Cubs. Italy.
Current team: AZL Cubs (rookie)
Jan Novak, Baltimore Orioles. Czech Republic.
Current team: TBD
Milan Post, Milwaukee Brewers. Netherlands.
Current team: TBD
Alex Roy, Seattle Mariners. France.
Current team: AZL Mariners (rookie)
Sven Schueller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: TBD
Artur Strzalka, New York Yankees. Poland.
Current team: TBD
Daniel Thieben, Seattle Mariners. Germany.
Current team: Pulaski Mariners (rookie)
Joel Valera, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: TBD
Daniel Vavrusa, New York Yankees. Czech Republic.
Current team: GCL Yankees 1 (rookie)
Ruar Verkerk, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: TBD