(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Spencer Kieboom briefly back in Major League
Nederlands
 WASHINGTON, DC (USA) -
Last week, catcher Spencer Kieboom briefly was back in the Major League, as he was on the roster of Washington Nationals for three days.
On Tuesday last week (August 27), Kieboom was recalled from Harrisburg Senators (Double-A).
On the roster, Kieboom took the spot of righthanded pitcher Hunter Strickland, who was placed on the paternity list.
Two days later, Kieboom was optioned back to Harrisburg.
The next day (August 30), Strickland was activated again.
On the same day, Washington also activated lefthanded pitcher Roenis Elías from the 10-day injured list.
To make room on the roster for Elías, lefthanded pitcher Matt Grace was designated for assignment.
During his brief stay with the Nationals, Kieboom didn't play.
The team played two games against Baltimore Orioles (August 27-28).
It was the second time this season that the 28-year old Kieboom joined the Major League-squad.
He also was on the roster on July 13-16, but then also didn't play.
Back then, Kieboom was added when righthanded pitcher Max Scherzer was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Three days later, Kieboom was optioned back to Harrisburg, as righthanded pitcher (and teammate) Austin Voth was recalled.
Last year, Kieboom played in 52 games for Washington and batted .232 (29-for-125) with five doubles and two homeruns.
He scored 16 runs and batted in 13.
Kieboom made his Major League-debut in 2016 when he played in one game.
He then walked and scored a run.
This season, the catcher played in 52 games in Double-A, hitting .196 (33-for-168) with seven doubles and one homerun.
He scored 12 runs and batted in 14.
His brother Carter Kieboom made his Major League-debut earlier this season.
The short stop joined the Nationals on April 26.
On that day, he started against San Diego Padres and hit a homerun for his first Major League-basehit.
Kieboom also homered two days later.
In 11 games, Kieboom batted .128 (5-for-39), scored four runs and batted in two, which were his two homeruns.
However, he also struckout 16 times.
On May 7, Kieboom was optioned back to Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A).
On Monday (September 2), the 22-year old Carter Kieboom closed the season with Fresno.
He played in 109 games and batted .303 (125-for-412) with 24 doubles, three triples and 16 homeruns.
Kieboom scored 79 runs and also batted in 79.
Kieboom had a strong season in Triple-A and was the 18th best hitter in the Pacific Coast League.
His 79 runs scored were the second-most for Fresno.
He only trailed Cuban Yadiel Hernandez, who scored 87.
Kieboom's 125 basehits and 79 RBI's were third-best in the team.
In these categories, Hernandez also led with 142 basehits and 90 runs batted in.
Last week, Kieboom was named as short stop to the End-of-Season All Star Team of the Pacific Coast League.
It is expected that he will be recalled again to the Major League-team this month.
From September 1 on, Major League-teams can expand their rosters from 25 to 40 players.
Teams can add players for several different reasons.
For instance, players can be added to fill in when a regular gets a day off or players can be added to made a contribution in the final month in the race for a championship-title or wild card.
Also, talented players are added to give them experience in the Major League.
Starting next year, the 40-man roster (or expanded roster) will be eliminated.
The active roster of 25 players then will become a 26-man roster.
In September, the roster then will expand only from 26 to 28 players.
(September 3)
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