At the end of the transaction period (November 1st), L&D Amsterdam Pirates announced the roster moves for the 2018 season. Even though the core of the team stayed together, there are five new additions and four players left for greener pastures.
The new players on the roster of L&D Amsterdam Pirates are: Jim Ploeger, Maickel Rietel, Rodney Daal, Jeremyh Angela and Victor Draijer.
Jim Ploeger jumps ships from HCAW. Ploeger had the fifth-best ERA among starters in the regular season of the hoofdklasse in 2017 with 2.36 and a W-L record of 5-3 in twelve starts. Ploeger kept his opponents limited to a batting average of .249.
Maickel Rietel played with Hoofddorp Pioniers last year in the role of closer. With his former club HCAW, Maickel used to be a starting pitcher, but as a closer/reliever he thrived with Hoofddorp. As a reliever, Rietel kept his opponents limited to a batting average of .274, which may be on the high side, but his ERA of 1.93 was pretty good of course.
Rodney Daal is a former professional catcher, who played in the organization of the San Diego Padres. Last season, Daal played as a catcher with UVV. According to the press release of L&D Amsterdam Pirates, Daal is filling a roster spot as an infielder. In sixteen games with UVV, Daal hit .300 and had a slugging percentage of .350 and an on-base-percentage of .391.
Jeremyh Angela played college ball in the USA and spend the regular season with UVV where he appeared in seven games with an ERA 5.73.
Victor Draijer played for the Ouachita Baptist University in the USA. Draijer played third base with the college. After a slow start at the plate, Draijer’s batting average improved slowly but steadily and he finished with an average of .281.
The players that left the club are Dennis Burgersdijk and Patrick Bok (both HCAW), Norbert Jongerius (Zuidvogels) and Jesse Aussems (Onze Gezellen). Aussems will not be able to perform at the hoofdklasse level next year. Because of that, he opted for Onze Gezellen of the overgangsklasse, so he can keep playing baseball.
The 2018 roster of L&D Amsterdam Pirates will look like as follows:
Pitchers:
Jim Ploeger
Maikel Rietel
Jerremyh Angela
Robin Schel
Kevin Heijstek
Daan Hendrix
Rob Cordemans
Kyle Ward
Nick Veltkamp
Hidde Brocken (Brocken will play for the farm team of L&D Amsterdam, but will be available if necessary)
Infielders:
Zerzinho Croes
Nick Urbanus
Kenny Berkenbosch
Rodney Daal
Victor Draijer
Catchers:
Max Clarijs
Rashid Gerard
Outfielders:
Kalian Sams
Remco Draijer
Gilmer Lampe
Danny Rombley
Linoy Croes
L&D Amsterdam Pirates will have the following coaching staff:
Manager: Charles Urbanus
Assistant Coach: Randell Hannah
Pitching Coach: Rob Cordemans
Assistant Pitching Coach: Nick Veltkamp
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