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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar) Ray-Patrick Didder productive in Spring Training for new team Nederlands BRADENTON / CLEARWATER / FORT MYERS / JUPITER / PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida (USA) - Six Dutch players came into action in Major League Spring Training on Saturday (March 19). All six played in games in the Grapefruit League in Florida. Amongst them was Ray-Patrick Didder, who was added as an additional player to the team of Miami Marlins earlier in the day. With that, fourteen players with a Dutch passport are now participating in the Spring Trainings-seasons in Florida and Arizona. In his first game in a new organization, Didder was 2-for-2 and scored twice. The others who played on Saturday, were Hendrik Clementina (Atlanta Braves), Didi Gregorius (Philadelaphia Phillies), Ceddanne Rafaela, who got his first start playing for Boston Red Sox, Jonathan Schoop (Detroit Tigers) and Izzy Wilson (Boston). Clementina, Gregorius and Schoop all played in their first Spring Training-game. (March 19)

At Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Miami Marlins played at home against Houston Astros and won 10-2. ...Ray-Patrick Didder... In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ray-Patrick Didder was inserted as pinch-runner and then became the new short stop for Miami. He batted 2-for-2 with a triple, scored twice and batted in one run in his first game for Miami. Didder earlier played in MLB Spring Training in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when he was with Atlanta Braves, appearing in 33 games. In November, Didder was signed by Miami after he was a Minor League Free Agent following the 2021 season. Last year, he played as infielder/outfielder in Double-A in the Los Angeles Angels-organization, hitting .240 with five homeruns. With Miami leading 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Miguel Rojas doubled with one out. Didder then took over as pinch-runner, moved on a single by Joey Wendle and scored on a grounder by Garrett Cooper. In the bottom of the sixth, Payton Henry led off for Miami with a single, then scored with one out when Didder delivered a triple. Moments later, Didder scored himself on a sacrifice fly by Bryson Brigman. With two outs in the eighth, Didder hit a comeback infield-hit off of pitcher Joe Record, but then stranded on first base. In 2020, Didder played for UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna in the Italian Baseball League. In 2019, he participated with the Netherlands Team in the Premier12. Didder also played for the Orange Team in 2021 during the European Championship in Italy.

At Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Atlanta Braves visited Tampa Bay Rays for a 9-inning game that ended with a 4-4 score. Hendrik Clementina, who was added as a non-roster player a week ago, was the starting catcher for Atlanta and was 0-for-3. Clementina was the lead-off hitter in the third inning and then hit a pop-fly that was caught by the short stop. With Atlanta trailing 2-0 in the fourth inning, two outs and the bases loaded, Clementina hit another pop-fly. This time, the ball was caught in foul territory by the catcher. In the top of the sixth, Clementina struckout. He then was replaced in the bottom of the sixth by new catcher Arden Pabst. Clementina last played in Spring Training in 2019 when he was with Cincinnati Reds. Back then, he played in two games. Also in 2019, Clementina played for the Netherlands Team and participated in the European Championship and Olympic Qualifier.

At BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Philadelphia Phillies played its first home-game and hosted Toronto Blue Jays. With this game, Philadelphia also celebrated its 75th anniversary of having Spring Training in the city of Clearwater. The Major League-team first prepared there for a new season in 1957. Didi Gregorius was the starting short stop for Philadelphia and was 0-for-1 with a walk in what his twelfth Major League Spring Training is. Both teams scored once in the first inning, then Tampa Bay scored its second run in the top of the second. Gregorius then led off in the bottom second and flied out. Later in the at bat, Phildelphia came alongside on a single by Luke Williams. Philadelphia got a chance to score again in the third inning. With one out, Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto walked. After a pitching change and a strikeout, Gregorius also walked, which loaded the bases. Next batter Johan Camargo then hit a line drive into rightfield, but that was caught. In the top of the sixth, Luis Garcia took over at short stop for Gregorius. Philadelphia scored what would be the winning run in the seventh on a single by Yairo Muñoz.

At Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Boston Red Sox visited Minnesota Twins and won only 1-0. The lone run was scored in the seventh inning on a homerun by Ryan Fitzgerald. Ceddanne Rafaela, who is an infielder, was the starting leftfielder and second hitter in the line-up of Boston. After having hit a double on Thursday and a single on Friday, today, he was 0-for-2. Later in the game, Izzy Wilson entered and was 0-for-1 in what also was his third game. In the top of the first inning, Jarren Duran led off with a walk for Boston, but Rafaela then flied out. In the third inning, with one out and runners on second and third base, Rafaela flied out again. In the top of the sixth, Rafaela was replaced by a pinch-hitter. In the bottom of the sixth, Wilson entered as new rightfielder. He got his lone at bat bat in the eighth and then grounded out.

At LECOM Park in Bradenton, Detroit Tigers played an away-game against Pittsburgh Pirates and lost 6-3. Jonathan Schoop played in his first game, was the starting second baseman for Detroit and batted 0-for-2. This is the eleventh year that Schoop plays in Major League Spring Training and his third with Detroit. In the top of the first inning, Schoop hit a force play-grounder. He then struckout when he led off the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Schoop was replaced as second baseman by Jack Lopez. Eight of the nine runs (all six for Pittsburgh) in this game were scored on homeruns. There were six homeruns, four by Pittsburgh.

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