The reigning German champion Heidenheim Heidekoepfe will travel to its doubleheader with the Neuenburg Atomics on Sunday with a new bat for their potent offense. Matt Pali, who played for the Solingen Alligators in the Baseball-Bundesliga last year, is going to replace Brandon Taylor in the lineup.
Taylor is returning to the United States after leading Heidenheim to a second-place finish at the European Cup in Brno, Czech Republic last week. He won the best batter award after going 14-for-24 with three homeruns, two doubles, six runs scored and ten RBI in five games. He also played twice in the Baseball-Bundesliga, collecting four hits in nine at-bats. The Heidekoepfe already had revealed a few weeks back that the good friend of general manager Klaus Eckle only would stay for a couple of games.
The 29-year-old Texan Pali played five seasons affiliated ball in the Los Angeles Angels organization between 2003 and 2007. He joined the Solingen Alligators in May last year and batted .389 (OBP .486/SLG .685) with four homeruns, four doubles, 17 runs and 22 RBI in 14 games. He will be reunited in Heidenheim with his teammate from last season in Solingen, Chris Beck.