Michael Vielhaber, who reports from the Austrian Baseball League (ABL) all year long, has summed up the first part of the hot stove in Austria on Sportnet.at. Here are the important names on the market.
Dornbirn Indians: The 31-year-old Richard Bermudez is probably leaving the INDIANS. The Venezuelan already raised interest among ABL teams and German Baseball-Bundesliga clubs. Bermudez batted .318 (OBP .397/SLG .470) with two homeruns, twelve runs scored and ten RBIs in 20 games during the regular season. They might replace him with Matt Retherford, who helped the second division team FELDKIRCH CARDINALS in 2008. However the promoted club DIVING DUCKS is also interested in the 25-year-old catcher.
MOSQUITO Athletics Attnang-Puchheim: The 2008 champion is apparently interested in two young guns. After going down one level with the STOCK CITY CUBS, the 20-year-old southpaw Matthias Koppensteiner would be a nice addition for the pitching staff. But the teams from Vienna also are talking about him. Koppensteiner had a 5-6 record with an ERA of 4.99 in 15 games for the CUBS. He struck out 83 in 83 innings, but also walked 83 batters. The 17-year-old prospect Markus Efferdinger from the second division club JUMPIN CHICKEN WELS is thinking about an engagement with the A’s. Due to his rookie status he would remain eligible to play for WELS.
Vienna Metrostars: The 19-year-old Christoph Bernacki is probably leaving the METS for a college in Sacramento. The protégé of head coach Tim Patrick had a 4-3 record with one save and an ERA of 5.61 in 15 games. He struck out 52 (36 walks) in 67.1 innings pitched.
SUPERFUND Wanderers Vienna: Utility player Gregor Klinc of the German team HAAR DISCIPLES might return to Vienna. He already played for the METROSTARS between 2003 and 2006 and could sign with the WANDERERS. The multi-talented 28-year-old batted .301 (.351/.379) with eleven runs scored and four RBI in the Bundesliga last season. He also appeared as a pitcher in 13 games (one start), posting a 2-4 record with three saves and an ERA of 3.40. He struck out 27 (6 walks) in 45 innings.
Vienna Diving Ducks: Clemens Cichocki returns home to the DIVING DUCKS after a disappointing year with the German DISCIPLES. The 2007 ABL MVP batted just .159 (.250/.195) in 82 at bats and had an ERA of 11.05 in eight games (three starts) for HAAR. He struck out 17, but also walked 21 in 29.1 innings pitched. He could be joined Matthias Poetz, who played for the Willamette University in 2008.
Union Kufstein Vikings: The VIKINGS hope that the Australian player/coach Todd Fairbrother, who suffered a knee injury during the Austrian Finals, will stay in Kufstein. He batted .379 (.473/.736) with nine homeruns, 19 runs scored and 37 RBI for the runner up in the Austrian championship. He also was their second starter with a 7-2 record in eleven games. He posted a 1.23 ERA and struck out 85 (eleven walks) in 73 1/3 innings.