Loek van Mil
Encyclopedia
Ludovicus Jacobus Maria van Mil (born September 15, 1984 in Oss
, Netherlands
) is a minor league
pitcher
in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
organization. At 7'1", Van Mil is the tallest player in the minor leagues.
(Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar), a Dutch
professional baseball
team from Bussum
. He went 2-3 with a 5.26 earned run average
and 34 strike out
s, allowing 59 hits and 24 walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched
.
He signed a seven year deal as a non-drafted free agent on July 7, 2005 with the Twins, though the Seattle Mariners
had also shown interest. Van Mil threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings for HCAW in 2006, spending most of the year with the GCL Twins. He was 1-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 10 games, 8 of them starts.
In 2007, the right-hander had a 2-2, 2.63 record in 13 relief stints for the Elizabethton Twins
and held opponents to a .171 average, though he walked 17 in 24 innings. He struck out 23 batters.
Van Mil began 2008 with the Beloit Snappers
. He was 2-2 with 3 saves and a 3.22 ERA and 42 strikeouts in his first 44 2/3 IP, making the Midwest League
All-Star game. Van Mil suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm while preparing for participation in the 2008 Summer Olympics
, and missed the first seven weeks of the 2009 season while in rehab.
Van Mil began his 2009 season in late May with the Fort Myers Miracle
, playing in the Advanced A Florida State League
. Later that year, he was promoted to the New Britain Rock Cats in the AA Eastern League. He finished the year 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 42 games between the two clubs, 25 games out of the bullpen with Fort Myers with a 2.86 ERA and another 8 games with New Britain for a 2.45 ERA.
On November 20, 2009, he was added to the Twins' 40 man roster. He was designated for assignment
to make room on the roster for Brian Fuentes
on August 27, 2010. and announced as the player to be named later
going to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
in the trade for Fuentes on September 1, 2010.
for the first time for the 2007 Baseball World Cup
. He pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings in a save against the Venezuelan national team
and threw three shutout frames for a save against the South Korean national team to keep the Dutch hopes alive for the quarterfinals; they would advance after they upset Cuba
the next game. Van Mil threw 3 2/3 scoreless frames against the host Chinese Taipei national team in the quarterfinals to help the Netherlands win again. Van Mil pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the Bronze Medal game against the Japanese national team
but was yanked after a walk to open the 8th and the runner came around to score. van Mil still finished the Cup with a 0.71 ERA, second to Kenny Berkenbosch on the 4th-place Dutch team. He led the Netherlands with two saves. Van Mil throws a mid 90's fastball (clocked up to 99 mph), a slider and a change-up.
Van Mil was selected by coach Robert Eenhoorn
for the Dutch team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
. However, he returned home before the games started due to injury and was replaced by veteran Dave Draijer
. This injury also prevented him from representing his country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
Oss
Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) is a minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
organization. At 7'1", Van Mil is the tallest player in the minor leagues.
Career
In , at age 20, Van Mil debuted with HCAWHCAW
HCAW or Mr. Cocker HCAW , in full Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar, is a Dutch baseball club from Bussum. It is one of the largest baseball and softball clubs in the Netherlands and its teams play in all major domestic leagues....
(Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar), a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team from Bussum
Bussum
Bussum is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-History:Bussum was first mentioned in 1306. In this time, Bussum was a large heathland with many small farms, sheep pens and forests as is shown on old maps. Since Bussum is situated near the fortified town...
. He went 2-3 with a 5.26 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 34 strike out
Strike Out
Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
s, allowing 59 hits and 24 walks in 51 1/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
He signed a seven year deal as a non-drafted free agent on July 7, 2005 with the Twins, though the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
had also shown interest. Van Mil threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings for HCAW in 2006, spending most of the year with the GCL Twins. He was 1-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 10 games, 8 of them starts.
In 2007, the right-hander had a 2-2, 2.63 record in 13 relief stints for the Elizabethton Twins
Elizabethton Twins
The Elizabethton Twins are a minor league baseball team in Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. They are a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League, and have been a farm team of the Minnesota Twins since 1974. The Twins play home games at Joe O'Brien Field...
and held opponents to a .171 average, though he walked 17 in 24 innings. He struck out 23 batters.
Van Mil began 2008 with the Beloit Snappers
Beloit Snappers
The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the...
. He was 2-2 with 3 saves and a 3.22 ERA and 42 strikeouts in his first 44 2/3 IP, making the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star game. Van Mil suffered a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm while preparing for participation in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, and missed the first seven weeks of the 2009 season while in rehab.
Van Mil began his 2009 season in late May with the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, playing in the Advanced A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Later that year, he was promoted to the New Britain Rock Cats in the AA Eastern League. He finished the year 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 42 games between the two clubs, 25 games out of the bullpen with Fort Myers with a 2.86 ERA and another 8 games with New Britain for a 2.45 ERA.
On November 20, 2009, he was added to the Twins' 40 man roster. He was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
to make room on the roster for Brian Fuentes
Brian Fuentes
Brian Christopher Fuentes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. Previously, he played for the Seattle Mariners, the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Minnesota Twins...
on August 27, 2010. and announced as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
going to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the trade for Fuentes on September 1, 2010.
Dutch national team
Van Mil joined the Netherlands national baseball teamNetherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
for the first time for the 2007 Baseball World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
. He pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings in a save against the Venezuelan national team
Venezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
and threw three shutout frames for a save against the South Korean national team to keep the Dutch hopes alive for the quarterfinals; they would advance after they upset Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
the next game. Van Mil threw 3 2/3 scoreless frames against the host Chinese Taipei national team in the quarterfinals to help the Netherlands win again. Van Mil pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the Bronze Medal game against the Japanese national team
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
but was yanked after a walk to open the 8th and the runner came around to score. van Mil still finished the Cup with a 0.71 ERA, second to Kenny Berkenbosch on the 4th-place Dutch team. He led the Netherlands with two saves. Van Mil throws a mid 90's fastball (clocked up to 99 mph), a slider and a change-up.
Van Mil was selected by coach Robert Eenhoorn
Robert Eenhoorn
Robert Franciscus Eenhoorn is a retired Dutch professional baseball player and manager. He played four seasons of Major League Baseball as a utility infielder for the New York Yankees and California/Anaheim Angels.-Major League career:Robert Eenhoorn played four seasons in Major League Baseball as...
for the Dutch team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. However, he returned home before the games started due to injury and was replaced by veteran Dave Draijer
Dave Draijer
Dorotheus Wilhelmus "Dave" Draijer is a Dutch baseball player.Draijer represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens where he and his team became sixth...
. This injury also prevented him from representing his country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.