(Story Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
  Nick Urbanus released by Texas Rangers
Nederlands
 SURPRISE, Arizona (USA) -
Dutch professional infielder Nick Urbanus has been released by the Texas Rangers, the organization where he has played since 2011.
Urbanus had a fine Spring Training in minor league-camp with the Rangers, but a few days ago, the decision was made to release him.
The middle infielder will stay in the USA for the coming days, as of course, there are always possibilities that he will be picked up by another organization.
...Nick Urbanus playing for the Dutch Team last year...
...during the European Championship in the Czech Republic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Urbanus, who turned 23 last Sunday, made his professional debut in 2011, playing in 50 games in the Rookie League-team of the Rangers in the Arizona League.
In his first professional season, he also earned his first promotion, as he played in one game for the Spokane Indians, the Single-A Short Season-team of the Rangers.
In Arizona, Urbanus did well, hitting .283 (58-for-205) with five doubles and five triples, scoring 35 runs and batting in 30.
In 2012, the lefthanded hitting Urbanus played the entire season in Single-A.
Seven of those games, he played for Spokane in Short Season, but in 46 games, he played for Hickory Crawdads, the Single-A team of the Rangers in the South Atlantic League.
There, he batted .231 (33-for-143), scored 23 runs and batted in eleven.
The following year, Urbanus played the entire season for Hickory.
He now played in 55 games, hitting .150 (24-for-160), scored 15 runs and batted in six.
Last year, Urbanus was bothered somewhat by an injury, but played the majority of the season again for Hickory.
In 48 games, he batted .212 (35-for-165) with seven doubles and three triples.
He scored 18 runs and batted in eleven, but also played five games in Rookie League again while recovering from his injury.
Before going to the States to start his professional career, Urbanus already had played in the Dutch big league for Amsterdam Pirates.
He appeared in five games during the 2009 season, which also was the year in which he made his debut in the Netherlands National Baseball Team during the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam (Netherlands).
In 2010, he played a full season for Amsterdam Pirates, playing in 42 games, hitting .236.
After returning home after completion of his professional seasons since 2011, he was eligible to play in the Dutch Play-offs and Holland Series with Amsterdam Pirates.
But in those four years he was never used in the post-season, unlike other returning players who were used by the Dutch club they were associated with at that moment.
But Pirates always opted to play in the post-season with the players who also were with the team during the regular season.
Last year, Urbanus played for the Netherlands Team that captured the European title in the European Championship the Czech Republic.
He also played for the Orange squad during the European Championship in 2012.
(March 31)
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