Rick van den Hurk stays loyal to Hawks

The Softbank Hawks and Dutchie Rick van den Hurk agreed on a one-year contract extension. It was rumored Rick was looking for opportunities in the MLB but he decided to stay with the Japanese champion.

Van den Hurk’s contract expired after the 2019 season, which was rather injury-riddled. Rick appeared in only three games of which he won two with a 3.12 ERA. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 17.1 innings and struck out twenty-two batters. In the 2019 Nippon Series, in which the Softbank Hawks swept multiple Japanese champions Yomiuri Giants, Rick didn’t see any playing time.

Rick stated that he is very grateful for the contract extension and that he is looking forward to the next season as he will try to help the Softbank Hawks to clinch a fourth consecutive title.