 European Big League Tour underway
Nederlands
 ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
The third edition of the European Big League Tour got underway on Saturday, November 10 in the Topsportcenter in Rotterdam.
...The five Major Leaguers who participate in the 3rd EBLT...
...Jeremy Guthrie (Royals), Chris Dickerson (Yankees),...
...Rick van den Hurk (Pirates), Roger Bernadina (Nationals)...
...and Alex Liddi (Mariners)...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In 2010, the inaugural version of the series of clinics set up by Dutch Major League-pitcher Rick van den Hurk was held in Amsterdam, Haarlem and Rotterdam, while the participating Major League-players also traveled to Antwerp in Belgium.
Last year, Utrecht and Amsterdam were the locations of the second Tour in the Netherlands, which then continued in Prague (Czech Republic) and Parma (Italy).
Van den Hurk started organizing the clinics to do something back for Dutch baseball and especially youth players.
Besides the clinics, there are also question-and-answer sessions with the Major League-players.
For the third edition, 600 players registered to participate in the EBLT where Van den Hurk is joined by Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals), Jeremy Guthrie (Kansas City Royals), Chris Dickerson (New York Yankees) and Alex Liddi (Seattle Mariners), the first Italian player to reach the Major League.
Van den Hurk pitched in the Majors this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
During the clinic sessions, the five Major League-players were assisted by players and coaches of the Dutch National Baseball Team and the Dutch National Junior Team.
In 2010, John Baker (Florida Marlins), Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioless), Jeremy Guthrie (Baltimore Orioles, Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals), Greg Halman (Seattle Mariners), Brady Anderson (former player) and Kyle Barbour (strenghth and conditioning trainer Arizona Diamondbacks) took part in the trip to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Last year, Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers), Mike Stanton (Florida Marlins, Dexter Fowler (Colorado Rockies), Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles), Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals), Greg Halman (Seattle Mariners) and former player Bobby Bonilla participated and also traveled to Parma (Italy) and Prague (Czech Republic).
On Sunday, the second day of the EBLT will take place in Rotterdam, then the players travel to London (England), where a clinic will be held on Saturday, November 17.
(November 10)
...Alex Liddi with an infielder... | 
...A high five for Roger Bernadina... | 
...Chris Dickerson in action... |
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...Youth players follow the instructions...
(© All above photos: Henk Seppen) |
...The Topsportcenter in Rotterdam is this...
...years location of the EBLT... | 
...Emcee Alex Nelissen greets the particpating...
...players before the introductions... |
...The instructors are introduced... | 
...Rick van den Hurk talks with catchers... |
...Rick van den Hurk talks about...
...the right pitching mechanics... | 
...Catchers listen to former catcher Tjerk Smeets,...
...hitting coach of the Dutch Team... |
...Dutch player Kalian Sams, who plays in the minors...
...of the Seattle Mariners, gives advice...
...to the young players... | 
...Photographer Henk Seppen (left) in action, while...
...players listen to Kalian Sams, Roger Bernadina...
...and Berry van Driel... |
...Listening to Steve Janssen... | 
...Jeremy Guthrie tells what to do... |
(© All above photos: Marco Stoovelaar) |
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