Rick VandenHurk
Encyclopedia
Henricus Nicolas "Rick" VandenHurk (born on May 22, 1985 in Eindhoven, Netherlands as Henricus van den Hurk) is a Dutch
baseball starting pitcher
who plays for the Baltimore Orioles
in Major League Baseball
and the Netherlands national baseball team
.
when playing for the Oosterhout baseball team Twins, where his father was coach. He went to Fort Lauderdale Preparatory School where he graduated in 2003.
debut in , he had never pitched above Class-A. He underwent ligament replacement surgery on his right arm in .
In , VandenHurk started five games for the Gulf Coast League
Marlins in rookie ball and three more games for the Jupiter Hammerheads
of High-A. In the rookie league, VandenHurk allowed just two runs on four hits in 15 innings
of work, while striking out
26 batters. With the Hammerheads, he allowed three earned runs on five hits through ten innings and striking out 15.
On April 9, 2007, VandenHurk was promoted to the Marlins from the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
when pitcher Ricky Nolasco
was placed on the disabled list. At the time of his debut, he was the youngest player in the National League
. He made his first major league appearance on April 10, starting against the Milwaukee Brewers
. A rain delay cut his debut short after 4 innings, in which he allowed one earned run on five hits, with five strikeouts and three walks
.
VandenHurk was sent back to Double-A after the team's April 24 loss to the Atlanta Braves
. In his fourth appearance, he pitched just one inning while giving up six earned runs on four hits
and four walks
. Pitcher Nate Field
was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque
to take his roster spot.
On June 5, the Marlins called up VandenHurk to throw the second game of a double header. He went six innings without giving up a hit until Yunel Escobar
hit a double
to lead off the 7th inning. He did not give up a run and earned his first win. He was sent again to Double-A on June 16.
During the 2007 midseason, VandenHurk was selected to the All-Star Futures Game
for which he received the win.
He was called back up to the majors on Tuesday July 22, 2008 to start against the Atlanta Braves.
He was brought up again to join the rotation on July 20, 2009 when the Marlins sent struggling left-hander Andrew Miller to the minor leagues. His first opponent was the San Diego Padres with VandenHurk coming away the winner that day in a 3-2 game.
During November 2009, VandenHurk pitched for Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rico Baseball League, a Winter Baseball league. VandenHurk made three starts going 0-0 with an ERA of 2.50 striking out 13 in 18 innings, while walking just one.
VandenHurk was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
on July 31, 2010, in exchange for Will Ohman
.
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...
baseball starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who plays for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and the Netherlands national baseball team
Netherlands 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....
.
Early years
At the age of 16, VandenHurk was scouted by Chicho JesurunChicho Jesurun
Arthur Benjamin Jesurun was a Netherlands-Antillian baseball player and coach who reached worldwide fame.During his playing career he played for several teams...
when playing for the Oosterhout baseball team Twins, where his father was coach. He went to Fort Lauderdale Preparatory School where he graduated in 2003.
Professional career
Prior to his major leagueMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut in , he had never pitched above Class-A. He underwent ligament replacement surgery on his right arm in .
In , VandenHurk started five games for the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
Marlins in rookie ball and three more games for the Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
of High-A. In the rookie league, VandenHurk allowed just two runs on four hits in 15 innings
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...
of work, while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
26 batters. With the Hammerheads, he allowed three earned runs on five hits through ten innings and striking out 15.
On April 9, 2007, VandenHurk was promoted to the Marlins from the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
when pitcher Ricky Nolasco
Ricky Nolasco
Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5,...
was placed on the disabled list. At the time of his debut, he was the youngest player in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He made his first major league appearance on April 10, starting against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. A rain delay cut his debut short after 4 innings, in which he allowed one earned run on five hits, with five strikeouts and three walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
.
VandenHurk was sent back to Double-A after the team's April 24 loss to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. In his fourth appearance, he pitched just one inning while giving up six earned runs on four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and four walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. Pitcher Nate Field
Nate Field
Nathan Patrick Field is a professional baseball scout for the Boston Red Sox — a member of Boston's professional scouting department — and a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.-Collegiate career:Field played college baseball at Fort Hays State...
was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
to take his roster spot.
On June 5, the Marlins called up VandenHurk to throw the second game of a double header. He went six innings without giving up a hit until Yunel Escobar
Yunel Escobar
Yunel Almenares Escobar is a professional baseball shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-Early life:Escobar was born in Havana, Cuba...
hit a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
to lead off the 7th inning. He did not give up a run and earned his first win. He was sent again to Double-A on June 16.
During the 2007 midseason, VandenHurk was selected to the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
for which he received the win.
He was called back up to the majors on Tuesday July 22, 2008 to start against the Atlanta Braves.
He was brought up again to join the rotation on July 20, 2009 when the Marlins sent struggling left-hander Andrew Miller to the minor leagues. His first opponent was the San Diego Padres with VandenHurk coming away the winner that day in a 3-2 game.
During November 2009, VandenHurk pitched for Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rico Baseball League, a Winter Baseball league. VandenHurk made three starts going 0-0 with an ERA of 2.50 striking out 13 in 18 innings, while walking just one.
VandenHurk was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
on July 31, 2010, in exchange for Will Ohman
Will Ohman
William McDaniel Ohman is a left-handed pitcher, who is currently a member of the Chicago White Sox. He lives in Agoura Hills, California.-Chicago Cubs:...
.