Fun Article on Scouting Guys from Africa/Europe

[Outshined_One]

Link

 

It's a rather interesting article. I'm incredibly pleased that MLB is attempting to expand beyond the US, Canada, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim in finding talent.

 

The Italian pitcher whom the Cubs picked up last year in question is Boise RP Alessandro Maestri, for those of you who are curious.

[wvcbxl]

The Italian pitcher whom the Cubs picked up last year in question is Boise RP Alessandro Maestri, for those of you who are curious.

 

And for the same curious bunch, his regular season stats from 2005 playing for T&A San Marino in the Italian Campionato A1:

 

W L SA 	IP 	BF 	H 	2B   3B   HR  K   BB 	IBB 	HP 	ER 	ERA 	O.AVE 	WP   BK   BB/9IP   K/9IP
3 1 1 	60.2   255   51   7 	3 	1   41  26 	3      10 	20 	2.97 	.237 	0 	0 	3.89 	6.13

[Mephistopheles]

Maestri was featured in a Baseball America article last week too.

 

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder started the season working out of the bullpen for the Hawks, utilizing a low-90s, two-seam fastball and a tough slider to combat batters. He’s also working to master a changeup.

[wvcbxl]

So the European Baseball Academy starts today.

 

Some interesting choices in whom was invited; no less than 16 dutchmen got invites (two declined, one of them because he has already signed with the Mariners). The most remarkable choice is probably Jan Baldee, a 15 yr old player from the Rotterdam Unicorns (a sports HS) youth squad (which makes him too young to play in the Dutch league)

Edited August 2, 2006 by wvcbxl

[Outshined_One]

So the European Baseball Academy starts today.

 

Some interesting choices in whom was invited; no less than 16 dutchmen got invites (two declined, one of them because he has already signed with the Mariners). The most remarkable choice is probably Jan Baldee, a 15 yr old player from the Rotterdam Unicorns youth squad (which makes him too young to play in the Dutch league)

 

Any updates you can give us on this would be most welcome. :D

[texascub]

So the European Baseball Academy starts today.

 

Some interesting choices in whom was invited; no less than 16 dutchmen got invites (two declined, one of them because he has already signed with the Mariners). The most remarkable choice is probably Jan Baldee, a 15 yr old player from the Rotterdam Unicorns (a sports HS) youth squad (which makes him too young to play in the Dutch league)

 

15? Where does he play? At 15 I'd think he's a bit young to be considered a serious pitching prospect at the big-league level, and his bat at this age is presumably not noteworthy yet either; what's the report on him?

[wvcbxl]

15? Where does he play? At 15 I'd think he's a bit young to be considered a serious pitching prospect at the big-league level, and his bat at this age is presumably not noteworthy yet either; what's the report on him?

 

He's a positional prospect. From what I've read, he was indeed invited for his hitting. I'll see what I can dig up on him later.

Meanwhile, here's a pic.

 

http://www.rotterdamunicorns.nl/images_deelnemers_2006/jan_baldee.jpg

[Outshined_One]

15? Where does he play? At 15 I'd think he's a bit young to be considered a serious pitching prospect at the big-league level, and his bat at this age is presumably not noteworthy yet either; what's the report on him?

 

He's a positional prospect. From what I've read, he was indeed invited for his hitting. I'll see what I can dig up on him later.

Meanwhile, here's a pic.

 

http://www.rotterdamunicorns.nl/images_deelnemers_2006/jan_baldee.jpg

 

He's got the goofy look and funky name.

 

I fully expect him in the All Star Game by 2020.

[wvcbxl]

He's a positional prospect.

 

He seems to play 2b

An extremely young hitting prospect at 2b MLBInternational deems worthy of an invite - interesting...

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I watched Italy play in the WBC. They've got a long way to go.

[Mephistopheles]

Maestri had another article on him.