Dutch right-handed pitcher Rick van den Hurk has extended his contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball for three more years. The 31-year-old, who made his NPB debut last year after a stint in the Korea Baseball Organisation, is now signed through the 2019 season. In ten games this year Van den Hurk has a 6-1 record with an ERA of 3.41 with 64 strikeouts and 13 walks in 66 innings.