(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
  Hainley Statia has also played first Spring Training-game
Nederlands
 SURPRISE, Arizona (USA) -
Besides the mentioned players in previous articles on this site, another Dutch player has played in his first Spring Training-game of the season.
Last Sunday (March 15), infielder Hainley Statia has played for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 12-5 loss vs. the Texas Rangers.
...Hainley Statia during last years...
...European Championship in the Czech Republic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the last few days, outfielder Randolph Oduber (Saturday) and infielder Sharlon Schoop (Monday) also got into action in a Major League-game.
And so, this trio has become the latest Dutch players to play for a Major League-team during this years Spring Training.
On Sunday, as an additional minor league-player, Statia was added to one of two split squads the Brewers compiled for that day for the games against the Rangers and Oakland A's.
Statia entered the game against the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth inning when he took over as short stop for Jean Segura.
In the top of the 7th inning, Jason Rogers led off with a double, then Statia stepped into the batter's box for his first at bat.
He lined the first delivery he saw back to pitcher Alex Gonzalez, who caught the ball.
In the top of the 9th inning, with one out, Brandon Macias singled, then was awarded second base when pitcher Keone Kela committed a balk with Statia in the batter's box.
With an 0-2 count, Statia grounded out to first baseman Kyle Blanks, which enabled Macias to advance to third base.
But he stranded there when another grounder ended the game.
Like Randolph Oduber and Sharlon Schoop, Statia last year also played for the Netherlands National Baseball Team when it captured the European Championship-title in the Czech Republic.
Statia also participated with the Orange squad in all three editions of the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
The infielder frequently played for the Dutch Team, as he also was a member of the squad during the World Championship in 2007 (Taiwan) and 2009 (Netherlands/Italy), as well as the European Championship 2012 (Netherlands).
Another member of the 2014 Dutch Team that won the European title is catcher Shawn Zarraga, who earlier this month played in his first Spring Training-game with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On Tuesday, Zarraga played in his third game for the Dodgers and went 0-for-1 in an 11-11 tie vs. Texas Rangers.
The 29-year old Statia is playing professionally since 2005.
He first played six seasons in the organization of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Since the 2011 season, Statia plays in the minor league for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Last year, he played in 83 games on the Double-A and Triple-A level.
(March 17)
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