The Italian Baseball market continues to produce one news after another. This time two pitchers have found new homes in Godo and Grosseto.
Godo Knights
The North East Knights have signed the right-handed pitcher Robert Palencia to pitch for Godo in the Italian Baseball League this season. The 24-year-old, who was born in Maracay, Venezuela, went to High School in Miami. He got drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004, but chose to attend Miami Dade College, receiving NJCAA All-American honors in 2006. Since 2007 he was playing ball in the Central Florida Baseball League and the Venezuelan Liga Paralela.
Montepaschi Grosseto
Good and bad news for Grosseto. According to Baseball.it a MRI revealed that Junior Oberto cannot pitch this season after his accident a few weeks ago. He has suffered a dislocation of his right knee, including crucial damage to the ligaments and the meniscus. He will be sidelined for eight months. They don’t have found a replacement, who takes his spot as starter in game two. A return of Michael Zambelli apparently is an option.
However they already have found a pitcher to add some depth to the staff of Ruggero Bagialemani as they signed the 29-year-old Fernando Gutierrez. He most likely will be the reliever in game two each week. Gutierrez is coming from Telemarket Rimini, where he had an ERA of 3.24 last year. Grosseto will be his fourth European team in four years after the Tenerife Marlins (ESP) in 2007 and HCAW MR. Cocker (NED) in 2008. Before coming to Europe the Venezuelan with a Spanish passport spent some time with Rookie league affiliated teams of the Baltimore Orioles.