Danesi Nettuno has signed Juan Figueroa to add some depth to the pitching staff for the upcoming season in the Italian Baseball League. The 36-year-old veteran from the Dominican Republic is pitching in Italy since 2005. He won championships with Fortitudo Bologna (2005) and T&A San Marino (2008). In the United States the right-hander reached Double-A.He played for Piacenza in 2011 in the Serie A of the Federal Championship. He married an Italian woman last year and therefore no longer is considered a foreign player.
Figueroa is basically the replacement for Dirk Hayhurst for now. However apparently Nettuno was granted an exemption to use another visa for an import player since the deal with Hayhurst fell through. The author and former Major Leaguer Hayhurst, who turned 31 on Saturday, meanwhile explained his sudden departure in a radio show. You can listen to the interview online. 20-plus minutes of stories about Italy and Baseball in Nettuno. It is too bad, he won’t be in Europe for a whole season.