What to expect from the Dutchies this year? Rick van den Hurk

With Spring Training at full swing now, it is time to see how the players from the Kingdom of the Netherlands will do in the upcoming season. Of course there is no crystal ball and it is still up in the air, but in general you can make a decent prediction based on the performance of previous years.

In Japan Spring Training started two weeks ago. While most clubs head to Okinawa for Spring Training camp, the Softbank Hawks and the Seibu Lions and the Orix Buffaloes have decided not to train on Okinawa this year. The team will prepare at the  Ikimeno Mori Sports Park in Miyazaki at the Kyushu island, one of Japan’s four main islands, where also Fukuoka is situated.

RIck signed a two year deal with the Hawks in the 2014-2015 off season after a monster year with the Samsung Lions of the KBO. Rick played two years (2013 and 2014) with the Lions. In his first season he struggled a bit but in his second season he helped the Lions to win the KBO title. He finished the regular season with a 13-4 record and a 3.18 ERA, the lowest in the KBO in 2014.

His performance did not remain unnoticed as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks signed him.
During spring training Rick got injured and once the season started, he was sent to the Hawks’ Ni-Gun team (minor league team). During his time in the minors, he impressed so much that the Hawks could no longer ignore him. To make room for him on the roster, they removed Jason Standridge from the active roster. Van den Hurk debuted in a game vs the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and clinched the win in his NPB debut. After his second impressive start he was send down anyway. On July 2nd Edison Barrios was pulled from the active roster to make room for Rick. Since then he has not been sent down to the minors again.

Rick finished the regular season with a 9-0 record after fifteen starts. In 93 innings he fanned 120 and walked only 22. Eventually he and the Hawks headed to the Nippon Series in which they faced the Yakult Swallows and their slugger Wladimir Balentien. The Swallows were not a match as they lost the series 4-1. Rick won game two of the Nippon Series, striking out seven and limiting the Swallows to only three hits.

Previous to his Asian adventure, Rick played in the USA for the Marlins’, Orioles’ and Pirates’ organizations. Rick debuted with the Marlins on April 10, 2007. He lasted 4.2 innings and gave up one run. Rick played most of his time in the minor leagues and after a stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates he decided to try his luck in Asia.

So what to expect of Rick in 2016? He is not the big unknown pitcher anymore. Most hitters probably will know his stuff by now. Rick relies on a fastball, a slider, a change up and a curveball (which he rarely uses). So plenty of pitches in the mix.
Even though he had a perfect 1.000 winning percentage, it is unlikely that he will not lose a game in 2016. But he will contribute for the Hawks for sure. I expect him to win twelve to fourteen games, and that is a rather conservative estimation. According to Nikkan Sports and Daily Sports, Rick and Shota Takeda are considered as opening day starters by the Hawks management.

After this season his contract with the Hawks will expire. I don’t see a reason why the Hawks will not re-sign him. But if he can put up similar numbers as he did in 2015, perhaps other clubs (like the Yomiuri Giants) may be knocking on his door.