Van den Hurk to Japan?

A Korean website has mentioned that the new NPB champions Softbank Hawks have shown interest in Dutch pitcher Rick van den Hurk. Currently Van den Hurk is pitching for the Samsung Lions of the KBO.

One of my contacts on Twitter confirmed that he had signed a contract but no Japanese baseball site, even not the site of the Softbank Hawks,  has confirmed this. So it is still up in the air.

I did read that the Hawks are eyeing Mets FA Daisuke Matzusaka. If this is true, you can wonder if this rumour about Van den Hurk is true.

It would be a big career step for the Dutch native. In my opinion he has matured a lot in the past two seasons in Korea. No matter if he will make the Hawks’ NPB team or their farm team, it must be a great experience to pitch in Japan.

Rick pitched for the Florida Marlins, the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates organisations. He pitched a total of fifty games at MLB level of which he won eight and lost eleven.

I keep my fingers crossed for him.