(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Robert Bos)
  Roster-change Netherlands Team: Raf Cocu replaces Franklin Van Gurp
Nederlands
 NOVARA (Italy) -
After completion of the second (and) final exhibition game on Friday (September 10), it was announced that there will be a roster-change for the Netherlands for the upcoming European Championship, which opens on Sunday in Italy.
It was announced that riighthander pitcher Raf Cocu will replace righthanded pitcher Franklin Van Gurp.
...Raf Cocu...
...Orange Rookie...
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
Van Gurp was initially announced a member of the Orange Team last Tuesday.
However, he sustained an injury while pitching in a Minor League-game last weekend and wasn't fit enough to play for the Netherlands Team.
The 25-year old Saint Martin-born Van Gurp made a relief-appearance for Everett AquaSox (High-A, Seattle Mariners) on Sunday (September 5), two days after he had been the starting pitcher, throwing inning in as a so-called opener in what was his first start of the season.
In Sunday's home-game, Van Gurp pitched two innings against Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays).
He threw the seventh and eighth inning, struckout three batters, walked one and gave up three hits and one run.
Van Gurp made his professional debut in 2017 in the organization of the San Francisco Giants, who traded him to San Diego Padres during the 2019 season.
In February, Van Gurp was assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm (Low-A, San Diego Padres), but he was released in March.
On June 30, the righthander was signed by the Seattle Mariners-organization and was assigned to ACL Mariners (Rookie League).
Two weeks later, he initially promoted to Modesto Nuts (Low-A), but on the same day, he was assigned to his current team.
With Van Gurp unavailable, it was then decided to add rookie Cocu, who plays in the Dutch big league for Twins Oosterhout.
During the Championship, Cocu will make his debut in the National Team.
The 22-year old Cocu is the fourth player of the Netherlands Under-23 Team who is now part of the roster of the National Team.
The others are pitchers Jayden Gonesh and Aaron de Groot and outfielder Julian Rip.
Last month, the four captured the title with the Under-23 Team during the European Championship, which also was played in Italy.
There, De Groot won the Award for Best Pitcher, while Rip was the Best Hitter.
All four are also candidates to represent the Netherlands on the upcoming Under-23 World Cup, which begins later this month in Mexico.
In the Under-23 Championship, Cocu pitched in two games, both in relief.
In 2 1/3 inning, the righthander struckout five batters, walked one, gave up one basehit and no runs.
In the Final against Germany, Cocu took over the pitching from starter Jayden Gonesh in the third inning and went on to become the winning pitcher.
In the regular season, Raf Cocu made 21 relief-appearances for Twins Oosterhout, most of them as a closer.
He was 3-3 with a 5.47 ERA and three saves.
In 24 2/3 inning, Cocu struckout 27 batters, but also walked 25.
He gave up 16 basehits and 17 runs.
With Twins, Cocu reached the best-of-five Play-Offs, but the team was swept last week (and thus eliminated) by Curaçao Neptunus.
Cocu pitched in two games in the Play-Offs.
(September 10)
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