According to a report by Honkbalsite.com the professional career of 17-year-old Dutch right-handed pitcher Tom de Blok is over before it started. The teenager returned this week from his first stint at extended spring training. He decided to “retire” after a couple of workouts and exhibition games.
The Amsterdam native cited his reasons through Facebook, saying that the experience was very different from what he imagined. He had no fun and was not happy there. Baseball in America is a job, but in his mind it should be fun. The Seattle Mariners put him on the voluntarily retired list. He is expected to continue his baseball career back home in the Netherlands.
De Blok was one of four prospects from the Netherlands to start his professional career this year. Ruar Verkerk (Minnesota Twins), Rachid Engelhardt (Baltimore Orioles) and Milan Post (Milwaukee Brewers) being the other three. He is not the first Dutch player to make this adult decision. In 2008 outfielder Tjerk Hogervorst (New York Mets) returned home before making his professional debut.