(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
 Former pro Randolph Oduber joins Neptunus
Nederlands
 ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Outfielder Randolph Oduber, who played profesionally in the United States until recently and is a member of the Netherlands Kingdom Team, has been added to the roster of Dutch big leaguer Curaçao Neptunus.
The club announced his coming to Rotterdam on Saturday (May 21) and added that he will join the team coming Tuesday.
Next Thursday, Neptunus opens a 3-game series against league-leader L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
Hereafter, Oduber will participate with Neptunus in the European Champions Cup-tournament, that opens on May 31 in Italy and San Marino.
In a reaction, Oduber stated: ,,I am very happy that I have a chance to play again.
It was not easy leaving the States, but if that is God's plan we have to work with it.
I am really excited to play with Neptunus and looking forward for a big year and of course anther championship year.
Kevin Kelly was the one that put me in contact with the ball-club.
I know that Neptunus is not only a good club, but they are serious about their business.
That is what made me make the decision of joining.''
Neptunus-pitcher Kevin Kelly added: ,,I know him very well, as we have played in the same team.
We are happy to call him our teammate.''
In the press release, Head Coach Evert-Jan 't Hoen said: ,,Randolph is an experienced player, who will strenghthen our team.
We are happy to welcome him at Neptunus''.
With the addition of Oduber, the roster of the Rotterdam-based club keeps on expanding, as it has added two other players in the previous two weeks.
First, righthanded pitcher Loek van Mil returned to Neptunus after having been released by the Minnesota Twins on April 25.
Last year, Van Mil also played for Neptunus after returning from a professional season in Japan.
However, he was then re-signed by the Twins, traveled to the USA in September, pitched in three games at the Triple-A level and returned to the Netherlands, where he finished the season with Neptunus.
This season, he began at the Triple-A level and pitched in five games (one start).
He was 0-1 and struckout four batters in 5 1/3 inning in which he gave up 17 hits and 15 runs, before being released.
A week ago, catcher/outfielder Shadrach Meulens joined the team.
Meulens, a nephew of Netherlands Kingdom Team-Manager and San Francisco Giants Hitting Coach Hensley Meulens, was with the team in the 3-game series against DSS, but didn't play.
Meulens is studying and playing at a University in the States.
Randolph Oduber played in the organization of the Washington Nationals.
He played in two games of the Nationals during Spring Training this year, but was then assigned to the Harrisburg Senators, which plays in Single-A.
However, five days before the start of the season, on April 2, he was released.
Since then, he was without a club.
The 27-year old, Aruba-born Oduber played professionally since 2010 in the organization of the Nationals.
In that year, he made his debut and played in both Rookie League and Single-A.
In 2011, Oduber again played at both levels.
He was the promoted to Single-A Advanced in 2012, when he played for Potomoac Nationals.
Another promotion followed during the 2013 season.
He initially started again in Single-A Advanced, but also played in five games at the Double-A level for Harrisburg Senators.
Oduber also played in Double-A in 2014 and 2015 for Harrisburg.
In six professional seasons, Oduber played in 428 games and batted .268.
He collected 403 basehits, which included 79 doubles, 16 triples and 24 homeruns.
Oduber scored 220 runs and batted in 179.
Oduber, who never played at the big league-level before in the Netherlands, was a member of the Netherlands Kingdom Team during last years Premier12 in Taiwan.
He also won the European Championship-title with the Orange squad in 2014 and reached the semi-final with the Netherlands in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
(May 21)
...Dashenko Ricardo & Randolph Oduber during the...
...World Baseball Classic in 2013...
...Now, future teammates with Neptunus... | 
...Randolph Oduber with the...
...European Champion Trophy in 2014...
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| (© Both Photos: Henk Seppen) |
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