Dutch outfielder Kalian Sams, who won the Baseball World Cup with the Netherlands last October, has made his Double-A debut on Monday. After missing the first part of the season due to an injury the The Hague native entered the game of his Jackson Generals in the Southern League as pinch hitter. His flyball was caught by the second baseman. It’s his sixth professional season in the Seattle Mariners organization.
His Dutch national teammate Mariekson Gregorius meanwhile has been playing for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Cincinnati Reds) of the Southern League since the start of the season. The shortstop is batting a strong .327/.370/.327 with six runs and four RBI in 12 games. He has hit safely in his last five games.
German first baseman/outfielder Donald Lutz hit his second homerun of the season on Monday, a solo shot in a 4-2 win by the Bakersfield Blaze (California League). He is now batting .231/.318/.462 with two homeruns, three doubles, six runs and five RBI in 11 games. Fellow German national teamer Kai Gronauer has to settle for a backup role with the Binghamton Mets (Eastern League). The catcher made his fourth appearance on Monday, picking up a single and a caught stealing in a 1-2 loss. He has hits in three of his four games this year.