Like last year we’re taking a look back at the performances by the Europeans who played in affiliated minor league ball in the United States in 2010.
Kai Gronauer
Birth Date: 11/28/1986 in Solingen, Germany
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Organization: New York Mets
Position: Catcher
2010 Season: It was an important and successful year for German catcher Kai Gronauer. The 24-year-old got invited as an extra body to Major League Spring Training and even appeared in two exhibition games. He began the 2010 season back with the Savannah Sand Gnats in the South Atlantic League, where he batted .267/.349/.361 in 50 games, earning all-star game honors. After the conclusion of the first half he got promoted to the Port St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League, where he went .324/.375/.403 in 38 games. This performance convinced the front office to send him to the highly regarded Arizona Fall League. After a tough start he managed to hit a solid .222/.286/.333 in 13 more games for the Solar Mesa Sox. Scouts and coaches rave about his defensive abilities, which earned him a shout-out as best defensive catcher in the Mets organization by Baseball America. He is expected to start in Double-A in 2011.
Career Stats: 171 GP, 675 PA, 605 AB, 72 R, 168 H, 10 HR, 76 RBI, 43 BB, 109 SO, AVG .278, OBP .338, SLG .369
Highest Level: High-A (2010)
Link to Baseball-Reference.com
Previous:
Thomas De Wolf (Mets)
Daan Cornelissen (Pirates)
Matej Hejma (Twins)
Luca Martone (Astros)
Ruben Rijkhof (Braves)
Dovydas Neverauskas (Pirates)
Jeroen de Haas (Mariners)
Frederic Hanvi (Twins)
Andrea Pizziconi (Diamondbacks)
Tom Stuifbergen (Twins)
Deion Galvan (Braves)
Kalian Sams (Mariners)
Swen Huijer (Red Sox)
Rien Vernooij (Mets)
Andrea Lucati (Astros)
Kevin Weijgertse (Mets)
Björn Hato (Mets)
Max Kepler-Rozycki (Twins)
Andrei Lobanov (Twins)
Scott Ronnenbergh (Mariners)
Luca Panerati (Cincinnati Reds)
Loek van Mil (Twins)
Mike Bolsenbroek (Phillies)
Alessandro Maestri (Cubs)
Victor Velazquez (Braves)
Roberto Machado (Braves)
Alejandro Sanchez (Braves)
Eric Gonzalez (Padres)