Eindelijk.....vanavond mag Rick eindelijk "los" in de MLB. Hij zal vanavond starting pitcher zijn voor "mijn" Marlins tegen de Brewsters. Het gaat erg hard met Rick....vorig jaar las ik nog een stuk van hem in de Miami Herald toen we daar waren.....toen nog Minor League.
Van den Hurk to make big-league debut
Milwaukee (3-4) at Florida (5-2), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
The Marlins got a long look at a number of pitching prospects in Spring Training. Rick Vanden Hurk didn't happen to be one of them, mainly because he was in Minor League camp.
The 21-year-old from the Netherlands has been regarded as a young pitcher to keep an eye on, but he underwent ligiment replacement surgery in September 2005, setting back his development.
Out of necessity late in Spring Training, Vanden Hurk made one start for the Marlins because the team needed an extra pitcher. He impressed in four innings, giving up three runs, but showing good poise against the Orioles at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.
Now, Vanden Hurk is making the biggest leap of his professional career. Because Ricky Nolasco went on the disabled list Monday with elbow inflammation, Vanden Hurk has had his contract selected from Double-A Carolina. The 6-foot-5 right-hander, who has not pitched above Class A, will start against the Brewers on Tuesday night at Dolphin Stadium.
Vanden Hurk was scheduled to start in a Double-A game on Sunday, but because of Nolasco's situation, he was held out of that start.
The Marlins are riding a three-game winning streak overall, and they've won nine straight over the Brewers, dating back to 2005. That matches the longest active string over one opponent. The Cardinals have won nine straight over the Dodgers, and the White Sox have taken nine in a row from the Reds.
Vanden Hurk's parents are traveling from Holland to be at the game.
While he has battled back from surgery, Vanden Hurk did log 40 innings in the Hawaiian Winter League in 2006. He actually paced that league with 63 strikeouts, to 17 walks.
The Brewers are going with Claudio Vargas in the second game of the series.
Pitching matchup
FLA: RHP Rick Vanden Hurk (Major League debut)
With Nolasco on the disabled list, Vanden Hurk is making his MLB debut. The right-hander had his contract selected from Double-A Carolina, and the native of the Netherlands is making the leap to the big leagues without throwing a pitch higher than the Class A level.
MIL: RHP Claudio Vargas (0-0, 13.50)
The 28-year-old Dominican established new career highs last year in wins (12), innings (167 2/3), strikeouts (123) and starts (30), including 17 quality starts. He also set career-best figures in walks per nine innings (2.37) and strikeouts-to-walks ratio (2.37), while averaging more than six strikeouts per nine innings. Batters hit 99 points lower (.274) last season against Vargas than they did in 2005 (.373). Because he was slotted into the No. 5 starter's spot, this will be Vargas' first Brewers start, though he did pitch two innings in relief against the Cubs on Friday. He's 19-14 in 62 career appearances on the road.
Player to watch
Center fielder Alejandro De Aza has hit safely in all seven games, which is one hit shy of the club rookie high hit streak to open a season. Hanley Ramirez opened last year by hitting safely in eight straight games.