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Updated: November 17, 2013
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Van den Hurk's 4th Big League Tour again successful
Nederlands
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) - The fourth edition of the now annual European Big League Tour has been another success. On Saturday and Sunday (November 16-17), hundreds of young Dutch baseball-players attended the clinic sessions, which were held again in the Topsportcentrum in Rotterdam. On both days, there were two clinic sessions of three hours. Coming weekend, the Tour continues in French capital Paris.

Dutch pitcher Rick van den Hurk, who this season played in South Korea for Samsung Lions, again organized the event. Van den Hurk, who played in his first Asian season, won the championship with the Lions.

The Dutch righthander, who played in the Major League for Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, is currently a Free Agent. In the upcoming weeks, it will be decided where Van den Hurk will play in the 2014 season and that also includes a possible return to a Major League-organization.

Van den Hurk was joined this weekend by three other players, who are active in the Major League and also are currently Free Agent. Centerfielder Curtis Granderson this season completed his tenth year in the Majors and his fourth with the New York Yankees. Granderson, a four-time All Star, also conducted a youth clinic in the Netherlands when he was in Amsterdam in 2006. ,,I like this very much'', said Granderson, who made several internationals trips in recent years to become a baseball-ambassador. ,,I like traveling and teaching baseball to kids. In these recent years, Dutch baseball has grown, you won titles and played very well.''

Outfielder Chris Dickerson, who played for Baltimore Orioles in 2013, returned to Rotterdam this year, after being part of the EBLT for the first time last year. Dutch Outfielder Roger Bernadina, who played for Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies this year, also was part of the instructional staff again. The fifth member of this years staff was Dutch outfielder Kalian Sams, who played in the minor leagues for the Texas Rangers and earlier in the week returned home after ending his season in Mexico.

The five instructors were assisted by players from the Dutch Baseball Academies, as well as players from the Dutch National Baseball Team, but also lefthanded pitcher Scott Ronnenbergh, who plays professionally in the organization of the Seattle Mariners.


...Left to right: Roger Bernadina, Kalian Sams, Rick van den Hurk, Chris Dickerson, Curtis Granderson...

...Emcee Peter van Deursen introduces...
...the clinicians...

...Curtis Granderson gives instructions...


...Rick van den Hurk answers question...
...Sitting at left is pitcher Berry van Driel...

...Dutch Team pitcher Orlando Yntema...
...looks on during a hitting drill...

...Rick van den Hurk listens to a question...

...Kalian Sams poses for a photo...

...Chris Dickerson poses with players of Orioles...

...Scott Ronnenbergh during a fielding drill...

...Asking for signatures...


...Curtis Granderson is interviewed by...
...Marco Stoovelaar for Grand Slam & De Telegraaf...

...Dutch Junior-pitcher...
...Tom de Blok looks on...
...he recently signed...
...with Seattle Mariners...

...Rick van den Hurk shows...
...a pitching stance...




...On the photo...
...with Curtis Granderson...



(© All Photos: Henk Seppen)

(November 17)


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