Two Dutch players, which are under contract with Asian pro teams will miss their respective season openers according to Honkbalsite.com. Right-hander Rick van den Hurk suffered an injury during his first Spring Training with the Samsung Lions (Korean Baseball Organisation). He is nursing an elbow injury suffered during training camp in Japan.
Meanwhile Wladimir Balentien is still rehabbing an injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic, playing for the Netherlands. The slugger of the Yakult Swallows however is already working to come back and should return to the NPB club within a few days. Andruw Jones is going to make his Japan debut this weekend, as the season gets underway.