The Saarlouis Hornets agreed on a contract with French southpaw Patrick CARLSON. They also signed the Slovakian Simon PROCHACZKA, the Dutch Bernd GOUDSWAARD and the German Torsten KRAPF. They already had introduced a new head coach a few weeks ago.
CARLSON is a left-handed pitcher, who also is capable to play first base and the outfield. He is coming from the Paris University Club of the French First Division. Besides a short stint with the FC Barcelona in 2005, he has played for PUC since 2000. He batted .315 (OBP .363/ SLG .411) with nine runs scored and six RBI in 21 games last season. His pitching record was not that solid. He posted a 0-9 record with two saves and an 8.44 ERA. He struck out 45 (36 walks) in 48 innings pitched.
PROCHACZKA is a right-handed pitcher, who is coming from Spiders Bratislava. He is also listed as a center fielder on the website of his former club.
Catcher GOUDSWAARD is 20 years old and played for the relegated Baseball-Bundesliga team Tuebingen Hawks. He had just 53 plate appearances in 21 games and batted .102 (.170/.122).
KRAPF is 32 years old and returns to the Hornets to finish his career with his former club. He was a first baseman with the Cologne Cardinals in 2007, batting .213 (.373/.213) in 19 games (61 plate appearances).
Saarlouis opens the new season on the road with a doubleheader against the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe on April 6th. They will travel to Dortmund next weekend for two exhibitions games against the promoted club Wanderers.
GOUDSWAARD was mainly a catcher in Tübingen.
Sorry. I missed the row.