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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo courtesy of Rome Braves) Kevin Josephina 22nd Dutch player in Major League Spring Training Nederlands SARASOTA / JUPITER / PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida / PHOENIX / PEORIA, Arizona (USA) - On Thursday (March 22), six players from the Netherlands played in Major League Spring Training-games. They were Ozzie Albies, Eugene Helder, Spencer Kieboom, Jurickson Profar, Jonathan Schoop and Andrelton Simmons. ...Kevin Josephina... (© Photo: Rome Braves) Earlier today, 21-year old Minor League-infielder Kevin Josephina was added to the main-squad of Atlanta Braves to be an additional player in the game against St. Louis Cardinals. The Curaçao-born second baseman didn't play in the game, but he became the 22nd player with a Netherlands passport to be in a Major League Spring Training Camp this year. That equals the record set in 2015. The switch-hitting Josephina plays professionally since 2014 in the organization of the Braves. After having played nine games in his debut-season (2014) in Rookie League, he promoted to Single-A during the 2016. Last year, Josephina played in 118 games in Single-A for Rome Braves, hitting .247 (106-for-429) with 13 doubes, six triples and one homerun. He scored 42 runs, batted in 34 and stole 21 bases. Also today, 23-year old Italian catcher Alberto Mineo was added to the squad of Toronto Blue Jays, which had two split-squad games scheduled against Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates. Mineo didn't play, but a year ago, he made his Spring Training-debut playing in one game for Chicago Cubs. Mineo transfered from the Cubs to the Blue Jays in December. On March 12, 20-year old Italian outfielder Marten Gasparini made his Spring Training-debut playing for Kansas City Royals. (March 22) Related Articles: Jonathan Schoop hits sixth Spring Training-homerun. (March 21) Only 3 Dutch players in Spring Training-action on Tuesday. (March 20) Xander Bogaerts hits 2nd HR; Andrelton Simmons 3-for-3. (March 19) Eugene Helder debuts in Spring Training with basehit. (March 18) Hendrik Clementina & Darren Seferina in Spring Training. (March 17) Ozzie Albies hits 2 homeruns (from both sides) for Atlanta. (March 16) Spring-debut Jansen; Simmons returns; Schoop HRs again. (March 15) Jonathan Schoop helps Baltimore to win with 4th homerun. (March 14) Didi Gregorius hits third homerun in Spring Training. (March 13) Sharlon Schoop in Spring Training; Italian Gasparini makes debut. (March 12) Gregorius HRs; Sicnarf Loopstok, Jiandido Tromp in action. (March 11) Schoop hits 2nd Spring Training-HR; Pieters doubles. (March 10) Spring Training-debut Kenley Jansen postponed. (March 9) Gregorius homers, Simmons injured in Spring Training. (March 8) 3 Hits & 2 Runs by Dutch players in Spring Training. (March 7) Xander Bogaerts homers for Boston. (March 6) Only two Dutch players in Spring Training-action on Monday. (March 5) Productive day Dutch players in League Spring Training. (March 4) Another Kieboom in Major League Spring Training. (March 3) Didi Gregorius collects three hits in Spring Training-game. (March 2) Spencer Kieboom, Chadwick Tromp deliver game-winning hits. (March 1) Andrelton Simmons plays in first Spring Training-game. (February 28) Seattle adds Aruban Eugene Helder for Spring Training-game. (February 27) Jonathan Schoop homers for Baltimore. (February 26) Spencer Kieboom collects 2 basehits for Washington. (February 25) Baltimore adds 2 Curaçao-players for Spring Training-game. (February 24) First Dutch players in action in Major League Spring Training. (February 23) Major League Spring Training-season opens. (February 21)

At Sarasota, Baltimore Orioles played at home against Boston Red Sox and won 10-7. Baltimore, which was outhit 12-9, trailed 7-4 in the sixth inning, but then rallied for six runs. Jonathan Schoop started as second baseman for Baltimore and was 0-for-3 with a run batted in. Schoop popped out in the bottom of the first inning and struckout in the third at bat. In the fifth inning, Chance Sisco hit a 2-run homerun for Baltimore to narrow the deficit to 7-4. The inning ended when Schoop flied out. In the bottom of the sixth, Baltimore got the bases loaded with one out. Sisco then batted in two runs with a double and Anthony Santander added a runscoring single to make it a 7-7 score. That brought Sisco to third base and he scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice-grounder by Chris Davis. A double by Many Machado and sacrifice fly by Schoop then lifted the lead to 10-7. In the top of the seventh, Schoop was replaced by new second baseman Luis Sardinas.

At Jupiter, Atlanta Braves visited St. Louis Cardinals and lost 8-2. St. Louis, which recorded only four basehits, already led 8-1 after three innings. Ozzie Albies started as second baseman for Atlanta and was 1-for-3 with a run batted in. In the first inning, Albies led off the game and struckout. He then grounded out in the third inning. In the top of the sixth, pinch-hitter Keith Curcio led off for Atlanta with a triple and scored on a following single by Albies. An error on a following sacrifice bunt then moved Albies to third base, but a strikeout and double play followed. In the bottom of the seventh, Albies was replaced by new second baseman Daniel Lockhart.

At Port St. Lucie, Washington Nationals lost 12-5 at New York Mets. Trailing 5-0 in the fourth inning, New York rallied for nine runs, then added three more in the sixth at bat. Spencer Kieboom played at first base for Washington and was 1-for-2. In the top of the sixth inning, with one out, Kieboom entered the game as pinch-hitter for Tim Collins and grounded out. Kieboom then remained in the game and took over at first base. In the top of the ninth, Kieboom led off with a single and advanced on a following single by Chris Dominguez. Hereafter, a force out and double play ended the game.

At Phoenix, Los Angeles Dodgers played at home against Los Angeles Angels and won 4-3. Andrelton Simmons started as short stop for the Angels and was 1-for-3. With one out in the top of the second inning, Zack Cozart singled for the Angels. He moved to second base with two outs when Simmons also singled. A walk then loaded the bases, but the three runners were left behind when the inning ended with a strikeout. Simmons grounded out in the fourth inning and struckout in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Simmons was replaced by new rightfielder Brandon Marsh, while Connor Justus became the new short stop.

At Peoria, Seattle Mariners played at home against Texas Rangers and won 5-4. Texas broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth inning, but Seattle answered with two runs in its ninth at bat. Jurickson Profar played an entire game as second baseman for Texas and was 0-for-4. Eugene Helder closed the game at third base for Seattle and was 0-for-1. In the first inning, Profar struckout. He also struckout in the third at bat and flied out in the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, trailing 2-0, Robinson Cano doubled with one out for Seattle. He was then replaced by pinch-runner Gordon Beckham. Hereafter, Nelson Cruz walked and another pinch-runner was inserted, this time Mike Ford. Next, the bases got loaded when Kyle Seager walked and Helder then became the third pinch-runner in this inning. Moments later, Seattle scored its first run on a sacrifice fly by Ryon Healy. The other two runners also advanced, but then were left behind. In the top of the seventh inning, Helder became the new third baseman for Seattle. In the top of the eighth, Profar got his last at bat and flied out. In the bottom of the eighth, Helder led off for Seattle and struckout. In the next at bat, Texas took a 4-3 lead when Juan Centeno homered with one out. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered to make it a 4-4 score. Beau Amaral then singled, but he was forced out by Profar on a grounder by Gordon Beckham. However, the latter then scored the winning run on a walk-off double by Mike Ford.

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