Mannheim Tornados
The German Baseball-Bundesliga team Mannheim Tornados will add two Californian players to the 2011 roster. Shortstop Ian O’Connor is 22 years old and is coming from the Santa Clara University. He wasn’t a starter last season, as Evan Peters and Justin Viele got the bulk of the starts in the middle infield. Despite the limited playing time O’Connor still had a good year at the plate, batting .370 (OBP .433/SLG .444) with eight runs and six RBI in 20 games (six starts). He has a tough task on his hands, as he has to replace Dennis Kelly, who is not coming back.
After two disappointing years at the foreign starting pitcher position, the Tornados hope that the 23-year-old Mark DeVincenzi will make a better job. The right-hander is coming from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. In 2010 he was a reliever for the Mustangs, going 2-2 with an ERA of 6.26 in 17 appearances. He struck out 28 batters in 27 1/3 innings, walking 18.
Mainz Athletics
Meanwhile the league rivals Mainz Athletics announced that they have added the 23-year-old corner infielder Alexander Szalay from the Mannheim Tornados for the upcoming season. New head coach Ulli Wermuth hopes that he develops into a key player for the A’s. Szalay began his career in the Bundesliga with the Paderborn Untouchables in 2003. After two years in Paderborn and two with the Cologne Cardinals he came to Mannheim in 2007. Last season he only appeared in three games for the Tornados. Overall he is batting .223 (OBP .305/SLG .257) in 115 career games at the top level in German Baseball. He is the second new player on the roster besides Swedish outfielder Peter Johannessen.