by DZ
More than one month of the MLB season is complete, with a few weeks of full-season minor league results as well. It is still 6 weeks until the US short-season leagues get underway, although the Dominican Summer League will commence later this month.
Shortstop Marco Cardoso returned from the Red Sox Dominican academy and is playing for Paderborn in the German Bundesliga. His pro career seems to be finished before recording an official at bat after signing last summer. Dovydas Neverauskas made the Pirates opening day roster, but has since been demoted to Triple-A and is pitching with great success while waiting for his next call-up.
MLB
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
Sir Didi was named the American League player of the month for April, as well as last week’s player of the week. His Yankees have lost one game in the last two weeks while the shortstop and cleanup hitter has hit 10 home runs and put together a .319 batting average thus far.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler has greatly exceeded his MLB rate numbers to date this season, hitting .284 in his first 100 at bats (against a career line of .243) and he’s getting on base 35% of the time (instead of 31%). Kepler has 4 home runs, 11 RBI, and 11 runs. While mostly playing right field since breaking into the big league club, Kepler is currently playing centerfield regularly while a teammate is out with an injury.
Triple-A
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A)
Neverauskas allowed 2 runs Friday in Indianapolis, his first runs of the Triple A season. More impressively, the three hits that led to those runs are the first he had allowed since returning to the highest minor league level. The righty has 7 MLB appearances already this season, and he’s struck out 12 in his 8 innings back in Triple A.
Double-A
Martin Cervenka, Baltimore Orioles. Czech Republic.
Current team: Bowie BaySox (Double-A)
Cervenka got off to an incredible start in his new organization, and he still holds a .312 batting average with 8 extra base hits through the first 22 games. The catcher is hitting .206 over his last ten games. He’s already added 77 at bats to his career tally of over 1400 minor league plate appearances.
Alex Liddi, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A)
Liddi, who made the major leagues with the Mariners in 2012 & 2013 but has been playing in Mexico the last two summers, signed with the Royals during spring training and has played 14 games for their Double-A team. He has six singles, two doubles, and two homers – as well as 18 strikeouts – in his first 44 at bats.
Single-A –
Tom de Blok, Detroit Tigers. Netherlands.
Current team: Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A)
de Blok has thrown 22.2 innings across his first five starts, striking out 19 and walking 8 while giving up 33 hits and 18 runs. He has allowed just a single earned run in each of his last two starts.
Alberto Mineo, Toronto Blue Jays. Italy.
Current team: Dunedin Blue Jays (High-A)
Mineo has played 8 games in his new organization, slashing .292/.414/.375 in the opportunities he’s been given. The lefty-swinging catcher has five walks against two strikeouts.
Sven Schüller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High-A)
The German reliever has pitched in 8 games, and has a 2-0 record and 4.15 ERA. There have been 17 hits, 6 walks, 4 hit batters, and 7 strikeouts in his 13 innings of work.
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Lexington Legends (Low-A)
Gasparini’s slow start leaves him with a .220 batting average for his first month, but he’s hit .282 over the last 10 games to get it there. In 21 games, he has 7 extra base hits, 6 stolen bases without being caught, and 27 strikeouts and two walks.
Rookie – Short season teams begin their official schedules in June.
Pascal Amon, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Petru Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: Bristol Pirates (rookie)
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Billings Mustangs (rookie)
Ernesto Wilson Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers. France.
Current team: AZL Brewers (rookie)
Anton Kuznetsov, Philadelphia Phillies. Russia.
Current team: GCL Phillies (rookie)
Marco van der Wijst, Houston Astros. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Astros (rookie).
Donny Breek, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Niklas Rimmel, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Leonardo Seminati, Cincinnati Reds. Italy.