According to Honkbalsite.com former Major League first baseman Randall Simon has joined the Dutch National Team at the Haarlemse Honkbalweek, where they are preparing for the European Championship in Germany. The 35-year-old was playing for the Rockford River Hawks in the independent northern league this season, but was released a few days ago.
Simon, who batted .283 (OBP .320/SLG .422) with 49 homeruns, 455 Hits, 172 Runs and 237 RBI for six teams in 537 games through eight seasons in the big leagues, already played for the Netherlands in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics and last year’s Baseball World Cup. With his arrival the Dutch roster currently consists of 28 players. Head coach Jim Stoeckel has to cut four players after the tournament in Haarlem.