De Glaskoning Twins has acquired a lot of reinforcements for the 2018 season
Dutch hoofdklasse club De Glaskoning Twins has been very active during the transition period. After a year in which De Glaskoning Twins survived the playdowns (in fact, the club finished on top of the playdowns standings), the club from Oosterhout has lured a lot of new players. With two foreign players added to the roster, the flagship team will have an international flavor.
The international players that were added are pitcher Jakob Syrén from Sweden and pitcher Pastor Chevez Martinez from Nicaragua.
- Jakob Syrén
Jakob Syrén came to Oosterhout for a tryout at his own expense. Apparently, the members of the technical commission liked what they saw and as a result, there will be a Swedish pitcher in the hoofdklasse next season. Jakob played for the Swedish baseball academy. He also played for several Swedish juvenile national teams and for the multiple Swedish champion Leksand. Last season, Jakob played for the Rätvikk Butchers.
Pastor Chevez Martinez, played for the Blue Lions Tilburg in the eerste (first) klasse, two levels below the Dutch hoofdklasse. According to insiders, Pastor may be the relevation of the Dutch hoofdklasse, next season.
But perhaps the most surprising moves may be the acquisition of pitcher Misja Harcksen and infielder Ruar Verkerk from Curaçao Neptunus. Harcksen had a tough year as he suffered from certain health issues. Another surprising move is the acquisition of Jarreau Martina. Martina did not play during the 2017 campaign because he could not combine playing hoofdklasse baseball with his job. Apparently, he has found a solution so he will rejoin the club he played for in 2016. Another big name that is joining the ranks of De Glaskoning Twins is Shurman Marlin. The 26-year old Aruban played for Hoofddorp Pioniers in the past two seasons. During the 2017 season, Marlin hit .270.
Also new on the roster of the flagship team is Brian Biezen, though from the own ranks of De Glaskoning Twins as he used to play in the farm team of the club. According to insiders of the club, Biezen may be one of the best outfielders in the hoofdklasse, defensive wise.
A surprising roster move is the one of Tair Vrutaal. Last year, Tair played mainly DH or first base. He used to be a pitcher, but since coming to Twins, he has struggled with his control. This year Twins is willing to give him another try as pitcher.
Of course, there are several players who left the club as well. Christopher Gé and Mick Molenaar have decided to hang up their spikes, though Mick will contue to play in the farm team of De Glaskoning Twins. Denzell Bryson is attending a school in Amsterdam, so it would be hard for him to travel down to Oosterhout and back at least twice a week. Therefore Denzel has joined the ranks of HCAW in Bussum, which is much closer to Amsterdam. Also, outfielder Melvin Perdue will not return as he will join the ranks of Curaçao Neptunus. Pitchers Jeremy Atkinson and Daisuke Yamashita will not return to the club either. Pitcher Brendan Schoemaker moved to Tridents, the farm team of Curaçao Neptunus. Catcher Bart Janssen has decided to join his former club JEKA from Breda.
Infielder Menno Lenting will join the ranks of overgangsklasse team Eurostars from Capelle aan den IJssel.
Likely the club will get another pitcher from Japan for the third year in a row. But it is still up in the air who that will be.
The roster is rather thin compared to last year’s roster. According to the technical commission, eventual voids will be filled with players from the farm team.
The roster will look like this. Eventual adaptions will follow:
