(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 Former pro Calvin Maduro Bullpen Coach Netherlands Team during Premier 12
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
Former Major League and Netherlands Team-pitcher Calvin Maduro will be the Bullpen Coach of the Netherlands National Baseball Team during the Premier12 in November, the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association announced on Friday (September 25).
On September 10, it was announced that Hensley Meulens returns as Manager of the Dutch squad during the event and that he will be assisted by current Manager Steve Janssen.
...Calvin Maduro during the...
...World Baseball Classic 2013...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Aruban-born Maduro, who turned 41 on September 5, was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in September 1991 (four days after his 17th birthday) and made his professional debut the next year, playing in the Rookie League-team of the Orioles.
After being promoted to Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A in the following years, Maduro was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies in September 1996 (one day before his 22nd birthday) to complete an earlier trade.
He was added the Major League-squad of the Phillies as a September call-up and made his debut in the big league on September 8 (three days after his 22nd birthday).
Maduro appeared in four games with the Phillies, where he also pitched in 15 games in 1997.
In the following years, Maduro became a Free Agent five times.
After having pitched for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Phillies, AAA) in 1998, he first became a Free Agent in November of that year.
He then re-signed with the Orioles in February 1999.
There, the righthander pitcher played in Triple-A again in the following season, then pitched in 15 games for the Orioles in the Major League in 2000.
He was primarily used in relief and was 0-0.
After completion of the 2000 season, Maduro again became a Free Agent, but was signed by the Orioles once more in March of next year.
In 2001, he once more spent time in Triple-A and in the Major League, throwing in 22 games (12 starts) for the Orioles and finishing with a 5-6 record.
In 2002, Maduro pitched in 12 more games (10 starts) for the Orioles and was 2-5.
In October 2002, Maduro became a Free Agent for the third time and this time, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January of 2003.
However, in May 2003, he was released and he went on to pitch for Newark Bears in the Independent League.
In that same year, he made his debut in the Netherlands National Team during the World Championship in Cuba.
In 2004, it appeared that his professional career had ended and he went on to pitch for HCAW in the Dutch big league.
While in the Netherlands, Maduro pitched in nine games for HCAW and was 5-1, striking out 36 batters in 45 innings.
Still being a Free Agent again, he turned professional again and signed with the New York Yankees in May 2005.
He pitched at three Minor League-levels for the Yankees and his stay there ended in October 2005 when he became a Free Agent for the fifth time.
Maduro again returned to the organization of the Baltimore Orioles in 2006 and pitched in 24 games for Bowie Baysox (Double-A).
After completion of the season, joined Dutch big league-team Neptunus for the Play-Offs following the 2006 season.
In Game Three of the best-of-five Play-Off vs. Hoofddorp Pioniers Maduro started for Neptunus, threw eight innings and was the winning pitcher in a 5-2 win.
It was the lone win for Neptunus, which lost the series 3-1 to Pioniers, which then lost the Holland Series to Kinheim, 3-2.
Maduro's active career ended after the 2006 season.
Maduro pitched in the Major League in (part of) five seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (1996-1997) and Baltimore Orioles (2000-2002).
He pitched in 68 games (39 starts) and was 10-19.
Maduro struckout 140 batters in 260 innings, giving up 272 basehits.
As mentioned, Maduro made his debut for the Netherlands National Team in 2003 pitching during the World Championship in Cuba.
In the following year, he pithed for the Orange squad in the Haarlem Baseball Week and was named Best Pitcher of the tournament.
Maduro also was a member of the Dutch squad that participated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens (Greece).
Two years later, he was part of the Dutch pitching-staff during the inaugural edition of the World Baseball Classic.
In 2003, Maduro received a Royal Decoration at Aruba and was knighted and received the Oder of Orange-Nassau for his accomplishments in baseball.
Nowadays, Maduro is a scout for the Baltimore Orioles.
Maduro also served as scout for the Netherlands Baseball Team during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
In the Premier 12, which will take place November 8-21, the twelve best countries (according to the ranking of the WBSC) participates.
Currently, the Netherlands is in fifth place on the world ranking list of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
In recent years, the Dutch Team has accomplished several impressive feats, including capturing the World Championship-title in 2011 and reaching the semi-final of the World Baseball Classic in 2013.
The Netherlands will play in Group A of the Premier 12, meeting Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy and Taiwan.
The Dutch open the event against host Taiwan in the city of Taoyuan.
(September 25)
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