 Kinheim adds Dashenko Ricardo to roster
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Corendon Kinheim has added former pro Dashenko Ricardo to its roster for coming season.
The club announced the addition on Wednesday-evening (March 26) during a sponsor-meeting and it was reported by the Haarlems Dagblad-newspaper later in the evening.
Last year, the catcher (who turned 24 on March 1) played for the Netherlands National Baseball Team during the World Baseball Classic.
He also was a member of the Orange squad during the World Championship in 2009.
Ricardo was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers three weeks ago.
Monne Reitsma reported in the Haarlems Dagblad that he then contacted Wim Martinus, who became the Field Manager of Kinheim after completion of last season, but also is an Assistant Coach of the Dutch National Team.
,,He contacted me and ask if he could play in the Netherlands'', Martinus said.
,,I informed some people of the club and it was arranged thereafter''.
Dashenko Ricardo played professionally in the organisations of the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants, before being released after the 2012 season.
During the WBC of 2013, he was contracted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who tried to turn him into a pitcher.
In the past, Dodger-closer Kenley Jansen was succesfully transformed from a catcher into a pitcher.
,,I couldn't make the change to pitching, my elbow was hurting'', said Ricardo, who arrived in Haarlem on Tuesday.
,,I feel more comfortable behind the plate''.
,,I still hope to continue playing professionally, but I first want to play a season in the Netherlands'', Ricardo said to Reitsma.
Dashenko Ricardo made his professional debut in 2007 when he played in 38 games for a Rookie League-team of the Baltimore Orioles in the Dominican Republic.
He promoted to Single-A in 2009, but played in Rookie League (plus Single-A Short Season) again in 2010.
After the 2010 season, Ricardo signed with the San Francisco Giants and then played the 2011 season in Rookie League.
He then played in the Short Season-Single-A again in 2012, before being released.
Last year, Ricardo played on three levels within the organisation of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He played in 26 games for the Single-A team, nine for the Double-A team and also two for the Albuquerque Isotopes in Triple-A.
He didn't pitch for the Dodger-teams in the 2013 season.
In seven professional seasons, Ricardo played 251 games and batted .224.
He hit 181 basehits, including five homeruns and had 79 runs batted in.
(March 26)
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