(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Greek Baseball)
 Hoofddorp Pioniers adds Greek/American pitcher to roster
Nederlands
 HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
Worldwide Pharma Logistics Hoofddorp Pioniers has added American pitcher Noah Zavolas to the roster of its big league-team.
The addition of the former Minor Leaguer was confirmed on Wednesday (April 30).
Zavolas also has the Greek nationality.
...Noah Zavolas pitching for...
...Biloxi Shuckers in 2022...
(© Photo: Baseball-card 2022) |
The righthander, who will turn 29 in one-and-a-half-week, will make his debut for Pioniers and in the Dutch big league coming Saturday (May 3) in the home-game against Amsterdam Pirates.
When he takes the mound, Zavolas will become the first Greek player in the highest Dutch league.
The American-born Zavolas studied at Harvard University, where he also played in the baseball-team in 2015-2018.
He was 9-7 for Harvard Crimson, appearing in 33 games (21 starts), striking out 129 batters and giviing up 168 basehits in 138 2/3 inning.
In his Senior Year, he had the second-best ERA of the team (2.96), was 6-1 with 77 strikeouts in 70 innings and was named Pitcher of the Year in the Ivy League.
Earlier, in 2012-2014, Zavolas played as a short stop and pitcher in club-leagues in Massachusetts.
Between college-seasons, he played for Wareham Gatemen in the wellknown Cape Cod Baseball League in the summers of 2016 and 2017.
Noah Zavolas was drafted by Seattle Mariners in 2018.
In June of that year, he made his professional debut, pitching for Everett AquaSox (Single-A Short Season).
During the season, he promoted to Modesto Nuts (Single-A Advanced) for whom he appeared in three games.
By both teams, Zavolas was used as a reliever.
In 19 games, he was, 5-2 with two saves and 41 strikeouts in 38 2/3 inning.
In December 2018, Zavolas was traded to Milwaukee Brewers, where he was assigned to Carolina Mudcats (Single-A Advanced).
In 2019, Zavolas became a starter.
In 22 games (all starts), he was 6-5 with 102 strikeouts and only 23 walks in 133 innings.
...Noah Zavolas with...
...Greece in 2024...
(© Greek Baseball) |
After the entire Minor League-season had been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zavolas returned on the mound in 2021 for Biloxi Shuckers (Double-A).
He also played for this team in 2022, before being released in August of that year.
In 2021 and 2022 combined, Zavolas appeared in 36 games (33 starts) and was 7-9 with two saves.
In 182 1/3 inning, he struckout 177 batters and walked only 55.
In 2023, Zavolas signed with York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League, but didn't play for the team.
During the 2023 European Championship in Czechia, Noah Zavolas was a member of the coaching-staff of the National Team of Greece, which finished in thirteenth place.
In 2024, Zavolas obtained Greek citizenship.
In July 2024, Zavolas pitched for Greece in the Prague Baseball Week in Czech capital Prague.
During this tournament, Zavolas pitched three innings in relief against Hungary.
Greece won 13-2 and Zavolas was the winning pitcher, striking out six batters in three innings.
Greece finished in first place of Group B, winning all four games played.
Zavolas is also on the Greek roster this year.
In September, Greece will participate in the Euopean Championship.
Greece will open in Pool C, which will be held in Milan (Italy).
The Final Round of the event will take place in Rotterdam (Netherlands).
(April 30)
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