Rick van den Hurk on his way back, Balentien’s rehab start postponed

Rick van den Hurk, who got injured during a spring training game of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, pitched in a rehab game for the Hawks’ farm team vs the farm team of the Chunichi Dragons.

In seven innings, he shut out the Dragons, allowed only two hits and fanned thirteen batters.

Van den Hurk signed a $2 million dollar deal with the Hawks during the off season after having a very strong second season with the Samsung Lions of the KBO. He clinched the ERA and strikout title in that league (ERA of 3.18 and 180 Ks). Talking about the KBO, Van den Hurk received his 2014 championship ring today.

Next to Van den Hurk, Daisuke Matsuzaka is also not on the main roster yet. Next to suffering from influenza about a week ago, he is also bothered by a stiff shoulder. Dice-K was fined a few weeks ago for being late at a practice.

The other Dutchie in Japan, Wladimir Balentien is still rehabbing after an achilles tendon surgery. His projected Ni-Gun (minor league) start is postponed because the Yakult Swallows think that he has not recovered enough yet.