(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
 Former professional pitcher Rick van den Hurk Technical Director KNBSB
Nederlands
...Rick van den Hurk is the new...
...Technical Director of the KNBSB...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
 AMSTERDAM -
Rick van den Hurk, who pitched in the American Major League, as well as in the highest professional leagues in South Korea and Japan, is the new Technical Director of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB).
Van den Hurk was introduced as Technical Director on Wednesday-morning (May 11) during a press-meeting in the clubhouse of reigning Dutch baseball-champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
The 36-year old former pitcher succeeds Tjerk Smeets, who stepped down in December.
A month ago, Van den Hurk retired as professional player.
In his new role as Technical Director, Rick van den Hurk will oversee all National Teams in both baseball and softball.
He has signed an agreement for 2½ years, which means that through the end of 2024, the former pitcher will be responsible for the top-sport policy of the KNBSB.
,,It feels like my mission to be able to share the knowledge and experience I have gained in my baseball career with the new generation of talents within Team Kingdom of The Netherlands'', Van den Hurk said in a press release.
,,I want to translate the more than 20 years of experience I have on the field into a technical policy that fits within baseball today and the KNBSB.
I am convinced that my experience with the different management styles within baseball organizations and the international network that I have built up during my career, will contribute to putting Dutch baseball back on the map.
This basically starts with local clubs (recreational sport) and the promotion of talent within the development programs of Team NL.
The goal is clear: to get the Dutch youth back to baseball.''
Van den Hurk contunued: ,,In addition, in my opinion it is important that the selection teams get more playing-time at world level, as is the case in Asia and America.
We have been in the top 10 in the world for a long time with Team Kingdom of the Netherlands.
That gives a good idea of how strong we are together as a Kingdom team (the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire and St. Maarten).
Given the upcoming tournaments for the youth and A-selection, in both baseball and softball, we get immediate feedback and good insights that we can build on.
The top athlete in me looks at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles with a slanted eye.
How cool and special would it be that we as Kingdom of the Netherlands would grab a medal there?
It is my task in the coming period to investigate with the team how we can organize that from a sport-technical point of view so that we can achieve those ambitions and objectives.
In this I will be supported by the Exectuvie Director of the KNBSB and I will also receive the necessary support from NOC*NSF.''
Stefaan Eskes, Executive Director of the KNBSB, added:
,,I'm very happy with Rick's arrival and look forward to working with him.
Rick is a true professional and through his international career he will bring with him the experience, network and top sports mentality, which will contribute enormously to realizing the ambitions we have for baseball and softball in a Kingdom context.''
...Rick van den Hurk is introduced as Technical Director...
...by KNBSB-chairman Mark Herbold...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Rick van den Hurk initially was a catcher and outfielder when he played in youth-teams in the Netherlands for PSV in Eindhoven, Amsterdam-based Ban Topa and Twins Oosterhout.
He was scouted by wellknown Chicho Jesurun, who was affiliated with Florida Marlins.
Jesurun also coached in the Dutch big league for ADO, Amsterdam Pirates, Almere '90 and HCAW.
Thanks to Jesurun, Van den Hurk participated in a training-camp in Florida.
Van den Hurk signed his first professional contract on November 14, 2002 with Florida Marlins and was transformed from a catcher into a pitcher.
In 2003, he played in his first professional season, pitching in 11 games for the Rookie League-team of Florida.
After moving through the system and being promoted to Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A, he made his Major League-debut on April 10, 2007.
In that year, Van den Hurk appeared in 18 games for Florida, starting 17 of them and was 4-6 with 82 strikeouts in 81 2/3 inning.
In 2008, Van den Hurk pitched in only four games for Florida and the next year, he threw in 11 games (all starts).
In 2010, he threw in two games (both in relief) for Florida, then was traded on July 31, 2010 to Baltimore Orioles.
In the remainder of the season, he was used in seven games by Baltimore.
In 2011, Van den Hurk mostly played in Triple-A, but also appeared in two Major League-games for Baltimore in September of that year.
Van den Hurk started 2012 in the organization of Baltimore Orioles, but then was released on February 3.
That was the beginning of a period in which he changed teams frequently.
He first signed a contract with Toronto Blue Jays, with whom he pitched in four games during Spring Training, then was put on waivers on March 21.
He was then claimed by Cleveland Indians the same day, pitched in two Spring Training-games, but after only eight days, he was designated for assignment on March 29.
On April 4, he was outrighted to the Triple-A team of Cleveland, but Van den Hurk opted for Free Agency on April 6.
A few days later, he signed a contract with Pittsburgh Pirates, where he pitched in the Minor Leagues in 2012.
In September of that year, the pitcher made his comeback in the Major League and was used as reliever in four games.
In total, Rick van den Hurk pitched in 50 Major League-games (35 starts) in 2007-2012.
In that span, he played in the Major League for Florida Marlins (2007-2010), Baltimore Orioles (2010-2011) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2012).
He was 8-11 and struckout 179 batters in 183 2/3 inning, while walking 96.
...Rick van den Hurk pitching for the Netherlands...
...during the 2017 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
After his American career with Major League-clubs, Rick van den Hurk went on to play in Asia.
The righthander first played two seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), the highest professional league in South Korea.
There, he played for Samsung Lions (2013-2014).
Thereafter, Van den Hurk made his debut in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan in 2015, playing for Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks for whom he played through 2020.
During the 2020 season, Van den Hurk was a teammate of Curaçao-born outfielder Wladimir Balentien.
In his first four seasons (2015-2018) in Japan, Van den Hurk was a regular (starting) pitcher for Fukuoka, but in the next two seasons (2019-2020), due to returning injuries, he pitched in only three and five games respectively for the main-squad.
Van den Hurk was a Free Agent after the 2020 season and he signed with Yakult Swallows on February 24, 2021.
Last year, Van den Hurk appeared in only two games for his new team and threw 4 2/3 inning.
The righthander struckout four batters, gave up eleven basehits and was the losing pitcher in one game.
In his seven seasons in Japan, Van den Hurk was a successful pitcher.
He appeared in 86 games and had a 43-20 record and 547 strikeouts.
The pitcher won six titles with his Asian teams.
First, with Samsung Lions (2013-2014), then with Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2015, 2017-2019).
Fukuoka also won the NPB-title in 2020, as did Yakult Swallows in 2021, but both times, Van den Hurk then didn't pitch for the team in the Japan Series.
Since 2010, Rick van den Hurk organized several editions of the European Big League Tour.
For this Tour, the pitcher invited several Major League-players to come to the Netherlands to conduct youth clinics.
Not only in the Netherlands, but also in the Czech Republic, Italy and England.
Amongst the players who participated in the Tour were Giancarlo Stanton, Curtis Granderson, Prince Fielder and Dutch Major Leaguers Roger Bernadina and Greg Halman.
In 2004, Rick van den Hurk was on the preliminary roster of the Netherlands National Team for the Olympic Games of that year in Athens (Greece).
However, the pitcher was recovering from an injury and was unable to play.
But in 2009 and 2017, Van den Hurk pitched for the Netherlands Team during the World Baseball Classic.
In 2017, the Orange Team reached the Semi-Final.
Overall, Van de Hurk played in five international games for the Netherlands.
(May 11)
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