(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 HCAW adds talented Aruban infielder Mercalina to roster
Nederlands
 BUSSUM (Neth.) -
HCAW has added Aruban infelder Raibiëntly Mercalina to its roster, the club announced on Thursday (July 30).
He will be eligible to play for the team effective immediately.
On Thursday, HCAW opens a 3-game series against Hoofddorp Pioniers with an away-game.
That will be played at the site of RCH-Pinguïns in Heemstede, due to renovation works at the main-field of Pioniers at its home-site in Hoofddorp.
Coming Saturday, which will be a home-game for HCAW, the two teams will play in Bussum.
On Sunday, the third game will be played in Hoofddorp at Field #2 of the Pioniers-complex.
Late June last year, Mercalina was one of 17 young talented players from Latin America that were signed by Major League-organization Philadelphia Phillies during the international signing period for 16-year olds.
Besides Mercalina, who is a short stop, one player (a catcher) was signed from Colombia and two from the Dominican Republic (pitcher and infielder).
Thirteen players were signed from Venezuela (4 pitchers, 2 catchers, 4 infielders, 3 outfielders).
After being signed, the group of young players began their professional career in the Latin American Academy of the Phillies in the Dominican Republic to further develop their skills.
Thereafter, they can be assigned to Minor League-teams.
However, due to the coronavirus-pandemic, the entire Minor League-season has been cancelled for thie year.
In May, Mercalina was released.
He now will study in the Netherlands and play for HCAW.
(July 30)
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