(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Alswinn Kieboom)
  Spencer Kieboom makes Spring Training-debut with Washington
Nederlands
  KISSIMMEE / TAMPA, Florida (USA) -
Spencer Kieboom has made his Spring Training-debut in the Major League-team of the Washington Nationals.
Last Friday, the 23-year old catching prospect entered the game against the Atlanta Braves in the bottom of the ninth inning.
This was the second game for the Nationals in this years Grapefruit League.
Today (Sunday, March 8), Kieboom had a pinch-hit appearance against the New York Yankees.
Yesterday, Curaçao-born Ozhaino Albies made his Spring Training-debut with the Atlanta Braves.
...Spencer Kieboom (right) with...
...his father Alswinn...
(© Photo: Alswinn Kieboom) |
In Friday's game at the Spring Training-complex of the Braves, Kieboom replaced catcher Steven Lerud to become the fourth catcher used by the Nationals in this game.
Kieboom didn't come to bat for the Nationals, who won the game 9-8.
The 'Nats' trailed 4-3 after four innings, then rallied for four runs in the fifth, but faced a 8-7 deficit after six innings.
In the top of the seventh, Washington scored twice to take a 9-8 lead, which also became the final score.
On Sunday, Kieboom was inserted as a pinch-hitter for Mike Carp with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to face Wilking Rodriguez, who started the inning in relief.
Kieboom grounded out to Cito Gulver, who was the second short stop for the Yankees today, as Dutch professional Didi Gregorius wasn't used in this game.
The Yankees won 3-2.
Playing with uniform number 68, Spencer Kieboom is one of 22 non-roster invitees to participate in Spring Training with the big league-team.
Amongst the non-roster players are veterans Dan Uggla and Tony Gwynn, Jr..
Uggla played in nine Major League-seasons for three clubs, including five with the Florida Marlins.
The three-time All Star second baseman was signed to a minor league-contract by the Nationals in December.
Outfielder Gwynn played in eight Major League-seasons for four teams.
Last year was very difficult for him, as his legendary father and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn passed away at age 54 due to salivary gland cancer.
Gwynn was without a club, but was signed by the Nationals last week to a minor league-contract and was invited for Spring Training.
Last year, Spencer Kieboom completed his third season in professional baseball.
He played in 87 games for the Hagerstown Suns, the Single-A team of the Nationals and batted .309 (102-for-330).
Kieboom scored 50 runs, batted in 61 and hit nine homeruns.
He made his professional debut in 2012 in Single-A Short Season, then played in Rookie League in 2013 to recover from an injury and then promoted to Single-A last year.
In June last year, Kieboom played in the All Star Game of the South Atlantic League.
In January 2013, Kieboom was named to the preliminary roster of the Netherlands Baseball Team for the World Baseball Classic, but didn't made the final roster for the event due to an inury.
Dutch-American Kieboom, born in Marietta (Georgia, USA), is the son of Dutchman Alswinn Kieboom.
As a catcher, Kieboom Sr. played in the Dutch big league for Twins and HCAW and was a member of the Dutch National Junior Team, but moved to the States at a young age.
(March 8)
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