By DZ. Filed April 16, 2022.
Another season of baseball is upon us, as the first full week of major league baseball and full season minor leagues is complete. This post aims to track and promote players developed in European baseball that are in organized professional baseball. The headliners are, of course, Didi Gregorius and Max Kepler, who have a combined 19 years of major league experience. There are also some new additions to the list, as four Europeans inked contracts over the winter, while one old friend returns to affiliated ball. In total, 23 players from Europe will suit up in MLB’s minor leagues in 2022. If you see anyone missing, please bring it to our attention.
Yoanis Aleksandrov, Junior Bonilla, Lou Helmig, and Enrique Sevilya signed their first professional contracts this winter, upping the number of countries represented by two to eight. Claudio Scotti re-enters the discussion, joining the New York Mets after a strong showing in the 2021 European Championships. The right-hander — still only 23 —has been competing in Bologna the past few years after a stint with the Pirates in rookie ball. Among other notables, veteran Markus Solbach joined his fourth professional organization, moving to the Tigers as a minor league free agent. Finally, there are a handful of players who have recently been released, listed below.
MLB (2)
Didi Gregorius, Philadelphia Phillies. Netherlands.
The Amsterdam native begins his 11th season in MLB as the starting shortstop for the Phillies. He’s earning $14.5 million this season, the second of a two-year deal. Through seven games, he has six hits with a run and two RBI.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Kepler is in the fourth year of his 5-year, $35 million dollar contract with the Minnesota Twins. He is their regular right fielder and, so far this season, the lefty hitter is playing every day versus left- and right-handed hurlers. The Berlin native has four hits in 22 at bats, including a home run and a stolen base.
Double-A (1)
Markus Solbach, Detroit Tigers. Germany.
Erie SeaWolves. Solbach moves from the Dodgers to the Tigers, and his Double-A success seems to have carried over with him. He made his first start for Erie, pitching 4.1 innings, striking out nine, with three hits and only one walk.
High-A (2)
Ernesto Wilson Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers. France.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. After a career year in 2021 —in which he slashed .274/.370/.493 and swiped 30 bags for the Carolina Mudcats — the left-handed Martínez moved up a level, starting the 2022 season in High-A. He has recorded four hits in his first six games, including a home run. The first baseman has drawn four walks and struck out six times.
Sem Robberse, Toronto Blue Jays. Netherlands.
Vancouver Canadians. Robberse returns to High-A Vancouver, where he finished the 2021 season. In his first start of the current season, the Dutch righty pitched five innings, with six hits and three strikeouts.
Single-A (7)
Samuel Aldegheri, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Clearwater Threshers. Yet to appear this season.
Jiorgeny Casimiri, Toronto Blue Jays, Netherlands.
Dunedin Blue Jays. Yet to appear this season.
Darryl Collins, Kansas City Royals. Netherlands.
Columbia Fireflies. The twenty-year-old Collins is off to a hot start, with eight hits in his first 21 at bats. He has walked three times with six strikeouts, while also stealing two bases.
Arij Fransen, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Dayton Tortugas. Fransen made his full-season debut with 2.1 innings of work April 10. He walked two and struck out three while allowing five hits.
Omar Hernandez, Kansas City Royals. Spain.
Columbia Fireflies. Spanish catcher Hernandez has four hits in 17 at bats, while also stealing a base.
Vojtech Mensik, Los Angeles Angels. Czechia.
Inland Empire 66ers. The NC State product finally made his professional debut on April 10 and has already played three infield positions in three games. Starting each of these contests, Mensik is 3-for-12 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, although he has struck out half a dozen times.
Niklas Rimmel, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Yet to appear this season.
Rookie League (8)
Note: There will be no official rookie league games—and, therefore, stats—until mid-June.
Marc Civit, Toronto Blue Jays. Spain.
FCL Blue Jays.
Darnel Collins, Kansas City Royals. Netherlands.
ACL Royals Gold.
Daniele Di Monte, Detroit Tigers. Italy.
FCL Tigers West.
Alessandro Ercolani, Pittsburgh Pirates. San Marino/Italy.
FCL Pirates.
Ettore Giulianelli, St Louis Cardinals. Italy.
FCL Cardinals.
Delson Guzman, Milwaukee Brewers. Spain.
DSL Brewers 1.
Frank Hernandez, Chicago Cubs. Spain.
DSL Cubs Blue.
Nicolò Pinazzi, Cincinnati Reds, Italy.
ACL Reds.
Not yet assigned
Yoanis Aleksandrov, Chicago Cubs. Bulgaria.
Peter Junior Bonilla, Los Angeles Dodgers. Spain.
Lou Helmig, Philadelphia Phillies. Germany.
Claudio Scotti, New York Mets. Italy.
Enrique Sevilya, Los Angeles Dodgers. Russia.
Released (6) [listed by peak 2021 level]
Martin Cervenka, Czechia.
Matteo Bocchi, Italy.
Leonardo Seminati, Italy.
Anton Kuznetsov, Russia.
Yoan Antonac, France.
Eduardo Dominguez, Spain.
Updates in last year’s series:
May 3 (Introduction) [link]
May 27 [link]
July 7 [link]
July 28 [link]
August 25 [link]
October 19 [link]