by Pim Van Nes
Netherlands main daily newspaper De Telegraaf brought an extensive interview with the Dutch pitcher of the Florida Marlins, Rick VAN DEN HURK. The pitcher was born 22 years ago in Veldhoven, a village west from Eindhoven. In this city he learnt to play baseball with his club PSV, where his father Wim VAN DEN HURK is technical manager. At the age of 16, Rick left club and family for an attempt to reach pro baseball in Florida. Last year he was promoted from Single A to Major League level to replace one of the rotation pitchers for a few Marlins games and completed 2007 with 17 starts, 81 innings and 82 strikeouts.
For non-Dutch readers here a few VAN DEN HURK quotes selected from the interview by Jaap DE GROOT:
“Iron discipline is the only way for a foreigner to succeed in the United States. No smoking, no drinking and everything focussed on the future. Certainly it was not easy all of the time. Especially when I got injured at my elbow after one-and-a-half year. Together with the doctors I conserved my positivism and after ten months I was ready for a comeback. A good mental balance is essential to reach the top. The Marlins provides us with a mental coach on a permanent basis. Somebody accompanying the team constantly with the feeling for whom and when to contact. Everybody feels at ease with this kind of coach.”
“Playing in the Major Leagues is a unique experience. You know, Barry Bonds played already in the Major League, when I was not even born. At childhood I was a fan of Andruw Jones, so it was very special not only to play against him, but also to meet him after the game. He then gave me his shirt with his signature on it. About their homeruns I never bothered too much. A homerun is not the end of the world for a pitcher. That is the question with positive thinking. Important is not your previous pitch, but your next pitch. If you can’t bear this in mind, you’ll never gonna make it.”
“Meanwhile I have sponsor contracts with Nike USA and Rawlings. They pay a lump sum and extra for each of my games televised. My official salary is fixed by MLB for rookies at 390.000 dollars last year and at 410.000 for 2008. Only in my third Major League season my contract can be reconsidered. We started the spring training with 60 players: 40 with a contract and 20 for a try-out. We will end up with 25 players: 5 starting pitchers, 7 relievers and 13 players for the other positions. That is the roster I have to belong to. Since my 6 years with this club I have become a real Marlin. Whenever another club would offer me to sign, I will stay with the Marlins if they ask me so.”
“If I manage to join the 25 men roster, it will be impossible to join Robert Eenhoorn’s national team of the Netherlands playing at the Beijing Olympics. The only chance to play for my country there will arise when I have to compete here in the Minor Leagues. Therefore I concentrate on the World Baseball Classic, where national teams can perform with their US Major League players. If all is OK, I will be there for sure. Because as a sportsman I have another two dreams to come true: to win the World Series with my club and to debut for the national team of the Netherlands. Whatever magic Major Leagues can be, I will always be a Netherlander. That orange shirt will be mine sooner or later.”
by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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