by DZ
We add Frenchman Yoan Antonac to our list of follows today, as the Montpelier native agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Antonac has pitched for France in many international competitions, been a part of numerous MLB events, and spent the last three years at the national baseball academy in Toulouse. Congratulations to the right handed pitcher on the first step of his professional career.
We also celebrate P.J. Conlon, born in Northern Ireland and debuted with the NY Mets, and Ryan Bollinger, called up by the NY Yankees after spending the 2017 season with the Munich-Haar Disciples in Germany’s Bundesliga. Neither player was “developed” in European baseball as such and thus are not on this list, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy how their stories raise European baseball awareness in and around MLB.
MLB
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees. Netherlands.
Current team: New York Yankees (MLB)
It would have been improbable for Gregorius to maintain his April pace, when he was the offensive Player of the Month. However, the numbers have balanced even quicker than expected, as the shortstop endured a prolonged slump (with one hit in 47 at bats for one stretch). He’s having better luck recently, with 7 hits in the last week and 4 stolen bases in his past two weeks. Gregorius has 11 home runs, 7 stolen bases, 37 runs scored and 36 RBIs for the season.
Max Kepler, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Current team: Minnesota Twins (MLB)
Kepler is hitting .240 with 7 home runs, 26 runs and 24 RBI. After being benched regularly against left-handed pitchers over the previous two seasons, Kepler has 4 home runs and is hitting .356 against them in 45 at bats this season. He’s played in each of the Twins games thus far in 2018.
Triple-A
Dovydas Neverauskas, Pittsburgh Pirates. Lithuania.
Current team: Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A)
Neverauskas has 10 appearances in the last 4 weeks, allowing an earned run in only one of them while allowing 7 hits and striking out 18 in 12.2 innings. He’s also walked 4 batters during that time. Neverauskas opened the season with the big league club, and it seems only a matter of time before he gets another chance at the big league level.
Double-A
Martin Cervenka, Baltimore Orioles. Czech Republic.
Current team: Bowie BaySox (Double-A)
Cervenka has 38 games played in Bowie this season, where he’s hitting .252/.280/.385. He has recorded 12 extra base hits, and is the team’s primary catcher.
Alex Liddi, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A)
The 29-year old corner infielder has 17 extra base hits while batting .288/.341/.542 in 34 games. He has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 games.
Single-A –
Tom de Blok, Detroit Tigers. Netherlands.
Current team: Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A)
The Amsterdam native has made 10 starts at the High-A level covering 49.2 innings. He is 3-4 with an ERA of 6.34 and 34 strikeouts.
Alberto Mineo, Toronto Blue Jays. Italy.
Current team: Dunedin Blue Jays (High-A)
Mineo continues to hit whenever given the opportunity, with a .292 average and .418 OBP in 21 games/65 at bats. The catcher has 14 walks and 15 strikeouts.
Sven Schüller, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High-A)
Schueller has been on the disabled list since his last outing on May 13th. He pitched 16.1 innings in 11 games before that time, with a 2-0 record and 3.11 ERA.
Marten Gasparini, Kansas City Royals. Italy.
Current team: Lexington Legends (Low-A)
Gasparini has 13 extra base hits and 9 stolen bases in 41 games for Lexington. The center fielder has walked 8 times and struck out 46 while slashing .231/.274/.347.
Rookie – Short season teams begin their official schedules in June.
Pascal Amon, Los Angeles Dodgers. Germany.
Current team: AZL Dodgers (rookie)
Yoan Antonac, Philadelphia Phillies. France
Current team: GCL Phillies (rookie)
Petru Balan, Minnesota Twins. Moldova.
Current team: GCL Twins (rookie)
Paul Brands, Pittsburgh Pirates. Netherlands.
Current team: Bristol Pirates (rookie)
Donny Breek, Minnesota Twins. Netherlands.
Anton Kuznetsov, Philadelphia Phillies. Russia.
Current team: GCL Phillies (rookie)
Nadir Ljatifi, Cincinnati Reds. Germany.
Current team: Billings Mustangs (rookie)
Ernesto Wilson Martinez, Milwaukee Brewers. France.
Current team: AZL Brewers (rookie)
Niklas Rimmel, Minnesota Twins. Germany.
Leonardo Seminati, Cincinnati Reds. Italy.
Marco van der Wijst, Houston Astros. Netherlands.
Current team: DSL Astros (rookie).