(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Jan Kruijdenberg & Henk Seppen)
  Pitcher Ricardo Hernández leaves Pioniers, will play for Rimini in Italy
Nederlands
...Ricardo Hernandez Sanchez...
...pitching for Pioniers...
(© Photo: Jan Kruijdenberg) |
  HOOFDDORP (Neth.) / RIMINI (Italy) -
Dutch big leaguer Vaessen Pioniers will have to do without lefthanded pitcher Ricardo Hernández Sánchez this season.
The Venezuelan hurler, who also has a Spanish passport, will pitch this year for Rimini Pirates and with that returns to the Italian Baseball League.
Rimini announced the addition of Hernández on Saturday (February 20).
On Monday, Rimini also announced that Venezuelan infielder José Flores will play for them this year.
Last season, the switch-hitter played in the Italian big league for Nettuno2, hitting .284 with two homeruns.
In the past winter season in Venezuela, Flores played for Águilas de Zulia.
Last year, Rimini won the Italian Championship-title by sweeping Fortitudo Bologna 4-0 in the best-of-seven Italian Baseball Series.
The 28-year old Ricardo Hernández Sánchez pitched for Vaessen Pioniers in the Dutch Major League in the past two seasons.
In his first year in Hoofddorp, he started 14 games, was 9-4 with a 3.06 ERA and struckout a league-leading 83 batters in 82 1/3 inning.
Last year, Hernández also started 14 games.
He then was 8-3 and led the staff of Pioniers with a 2.29 ERA, 96 strikeouts and 86 1/3 innings pitched.
With is 96 strikeouts, Hernández again led the Dutch big league.
He also led the league with his 86 1/3 inning pitched, just 1/3 more than teammate Lars Huijer.
In 2012, Hernández already played in the highest Italian league when he was pitching for Nettuno.
Back then, he was 9-3, struckout 90 batters in 89 1/3 inning and closed with a 2.22 ERA.
...Ricardo Hernández pitching for Spain...
...in the 2012 European Championship...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
As he didn't return to Nettuno, Hernández pitched in 2013 for Barcelona in the Division de Honor, the highest league in Spain.
There, he recorded 11 victories.
The lefthander then moved to the Netherlands in 2014.
Hernández also has the Spanish nationality and with that, he is eligible to pitch for the Spanish National Team.
He did so in 2012 during the European Championship, which then was held in the Netherlands.
Later that year, he won the World Baseball Classic Qualifier with Spain, then pitched in relief in two games during the World Baseball Classic in 2013.
Hernández also participated with the Spanish Team in the 2014 European Championship in the Czech Republic, where Spain won the Bronze Medal.
Hernández plays professionally since 2006.
In that year, he made his debut playing in Venezuelan Summer League in the Rookie League-team that was operated jointly by Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins.
Through 2009, Hernández pitched in the organization of the Marlins, mostly on the Rookie League-level.
He reached Single-A in 2009.
Since 2008, he also plays in the Venezuelan Winter League.
He first played there for Bravos de Margarita (2008-2009), followed by three seasons with Navegantes del Magallanes (2011-2013).
In the last two seasons, Hernández pitched for Caribes de Anzoategui.
(February 23)
|
