by DZ
There’s a lot more to look at now that the short-season/rookie seasons have begun. Two more European players have signed. With baseball’s recent look towards Europe around the recent Yankees-Red Sox games in London, there’s been a focus on the 3 current big leaguers from the continent, as well as the number of others knocking on the door or just beginning their professional journey.
The new signings:
Eduardo Dominguez, Los Angeles Dodgers. Spain.
The Madrid-based left-handed pitcher agreed to a contract with the reigning NL champions. He’ll likely begin his career in the Dominican Summer League soon.
Viktor Vecerka, Kansas City Royals. Czechia.
Reports have Draci Brno lefty Viktor Vecerka agreeing to a deal with the Royals after the MLB Cup event hosted in conjunction with the big league games.
MLB
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
Gregorius missed the first two months of the season as he recovered from elbow surgery, but he’s hit the ground running in his first 18 games back, slashing .301/.329/.452 with 3 home runs and a stolen base.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler has 21 home runs on the season while slashing .268/.342/.545 and accumulating 3.0 WAR (wins above replacement) already. Kepler started the year as the Twins regular right fielder and leadoff hitter, and he’s shifted to center field regularly over the last few weeks.
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)
Neverauskas has settled into success in the big league bullpen over the last couple of weeks. He has minor league options and it remains possible he’ll bounce back and forth between the big league club and Triple-A Indianapolis throughout the year. He’s had two scoreless outings in recent wins, He’s throwing a total of 8.1 MLB innings with 25.1 minor league innings.
Double-A
Martin Cervenka, Baltimore Orioles. Czech Republic.
Current team: Bowie BaySox (AA)
The Czech catcher has remained on the injured list since our last update. Through 37 games, he’s hitting an even .200 with two home runs and two stolen bases.
Alberto Mineo, Toronto Blue Jays. Italy.
Current team: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA)
Mineo has played 57 games with a .229/.309/.341 slash line (batting average/on base percentage/slugging percentage). He has 22 walks against 74 strikeouts.
Single-A
Tom de Blok, Detroit Tigers. Netherlands.
Current team: Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A)
The Amstelveen native has started 10 games and has a 3.74 ERA despite an 0-6 win-loss record. In 55.1 innings, he’s walked 24 and struck out 50.
Sven Schüller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High-A)
The righty has 20 games pitched in high-A this year, with a 2-3 record and 5.08 ERA. He’s struck out 20 and walked 13.
Petru Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low-A)
Balan made one appearance for the Midwest League club, allowing 3 runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two. He’s listed as temporarily inactive on the milb website.
Rookie
Donny Breek, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Breek has started 2 games, throwing 9 innings and yet to allow a run. He has 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Denzel Bryson, Atlanta Braves. Netherlands.
Current team: GCL Braves (rookie)
Bryson has played 4 games in his pro debut, having yet to record a hit but walking once and stealing a base.
Marc Civit, Toronto Blue Jays. Spain.
Current team: DSL Blue Jays (rookie)
The seventeen year old from Barcelona has thrown 15 innings across 8 games. He’s allowed 16 hits and 8 earned runs while striking out 14 and walking 8. He is 1-0 with a save.
Darryl Collins, Kansas City Royals. Netherlands.
Current team: AZL Royals (rookie)
Collins is off to a scorching start in his pro debut, hitting .410 in his first 10 games. He has struck out only four times while walking four times.
Omar Hernandez, Kansas City Royals. Spain.
Current team: AZL Royals (rookie)
The Spanish catcher is hitting .306 in his first 9 games of professional baseball.
Anton Kuznetsov, Philadelphia Phillies. Russia.
Current team: Williamsport Crosscutters (rookie)
The left handed pitcher from Moscow has 4 appearances for short-season Williamsport, pitching to a 1-1 record with 3.86 ERA. He has 6 strikeouts and 9 hits with no walks in 4.2 innings.
Ernesto Wilson Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers. France.
Current team: Rocky Mountain Vibe (rookie)
The Cuban born, Toulouse trained first baseman has played 15 games with his Pioneer League team. He’s hitting .259/.344/.463 with 3 home runs.
Niklas Rimmel, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
The Berlin native and Regensburg Legionaere has pitched 4.2 innings in 2 games, with 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 5 hits.
Leonardo Seminati, Cincinnati Reds. Italy.
Current team: Billings Mustangs (short-season A)
The Italian first baseman has played 13 games and is hitting .388/.446/.531 with 11 strikeouts and 6 walks. He’s scored 10 runs and driving in 10.
Markus Solbach, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: AZL Dodgers Lasorda (rookie)
Solbach had a setback with his arm in spring training, after signing with the Dodgers this offseason. He has made four rehab appearances at the Dodgers spring training site with the rookie level team, throwing 12.2 innings with a 7.82 ERA.
Yet to appear in 2019
Samuel Aldegheri, Philadelphia Phillies. Italy.
Yoan Antonac, Philadelphia Phillies. France.
Current team: GCL Phillies East (rookie)
Antonac is on the 60-day DL and will not pitch this season.
Jiorgeny Casimiri, Toronto Blue Jays, Netherlands.
Daniele DiMonte, Detroit Tigers. Italy.
Current team: GCL Tigers East (rookie)
Arij Fransen, Cincinnati Reds. Netherlands.
Sem Robberse, Toronto Blue Jays. Netherlands.