Rick van den Hurk removed from Softbank Hawks’ active roster

Rick van den Hurk’s adventure in the NPB didn’t last long. According to the website Yakyu Baka, he has been removed from the Hawks’ active roster.

Rick was called up about a week and a half ago from the Japanese minor leages, where he posted very impressive numbers. In ten starts, he won five games and lost one. He is led the Western League in ERA (1.17) and strikeouts (71). In 61.2 innings he gave up eleven walks, fourty-two basehits (of which four homeruns) and eighteen runs (of which only eight earned).

After his call up he pitched two games for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. In his first start at NPB level, at June 14, he lasted six innings and gave up two runs, of which one earned. In these six innings, Rick struck out six, walked none and gave up six hits. The Hawks beat the Hiroshima Toyo Carp 7-2 in that game.

In his second start vs the Nippon Ham Fighters, Rick lasted seven innings. He needed 117 pitches to strike out thirteen, walk one and to give up two runs on five hits. Rick left the game, trailing 2-0 but an offensive outburst in the bottom of the seventh in which the Hawks scored four runs, gave him the win.

I understand that the Hawks will recall Jason Standridge any time soon. But with the numbers he has put up so far with the team from Fukuoka, I was flabbergasted to read that he is sent down to the minors again. The Hawks have the luxury of having more than four foreigners on their club. Now Jason Standridge is coming back from “retreat”, Rick is the odd one out. Both are starting pitchers and the Hawks can’t keep them both on their roster.
I am pretty sure that he will return to the NPB roster sometime this season. Rick will be eligible to return to the NPB roster after July 1.