The Solingen Alligators probably made the biggest splash of the offseason in the German Baseball-Bundesliga so far. The club from the northern division, which won the championship in 2006 and reached the semi-finals last year, added 33-year-old right-handed pitcher Nick Renault. He pitched to a 5-4 record with an ERA of 1.68 in ten starts for the Haar Disciples last year and was named best pitcher of the southern division afterwards.
His departure from Munich was as sudden as unexpected in mid-June during a road game in Regensburg. The Disciples cut ties for unnamed reasons and Renault eventually went back to Florida. He pitched in various leagues throughout the winter and now returns to the Baseball-Bundesliga. He already arrived in Solingen and participated in a preseason doubleheader against the Bonn Capitals. On Sunday he got introduced to club members during the general assembly.
Additionally the Alligators added Steffen Stryczek from the Cologne Cardinals to the 2013 roster. The outfielder is 22 years old and joins last year’s teammate Sascha Steffens on the move from Cologne to Solingen. The club of sophomore head coach Norman Eberhardt already had extended the contract with shortstop Travis Bass and signed utility man Tanner Leighton. Only 20-year-old infielder Lars Szameitpreuss (Mainz Athletics) has left the team.
Photo: Solingen Alligators