HCBL Alums Named to World Baseball Classic Rosters
Photo courtesy Jan Kruijdenberg
Three Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League alumni have been named to rosters set to compete in next month's World Baseball Classic in Seoul, South Korea.
Alex Katz (Shelter Island '13) will suit up for Team Israel as it makes its first-ever appearance in the Classic, where he will be under the tutelage of pitching coach and former Southampton manager Andrew Lorraine. In addition, fellow southpaw Jim Ploeger (Westhampton '13) made the 40-man roster for Team Netherlands.
Katz joined the Bucks after his freshman season at St. John's, and put together a 3-2 record and 2.50 earned run average in 14 appearances. He went on to two more standout campaigns with the Red Storm, and was selected in the 27th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. In two minor league seasons, he has compiled a 2.87 ERA in 52 appearances, including his most recent campaign with High-A Winston-Salem of the Carolina League.
Israel is currently ranked 41st in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) rankings, the lowest ranked squad in the draw. However, at the WBC qualifier in Brooklyn in September, Israel upended Pakistan, Great Britain and Brazil, all of which are ranked ahead of them in the WBSC rankings. Katz did not make an appearance in Israel's three games, but is excited about the WBC, where he'll join the likes of major leaguers Jason Marquis, Scott Feldman and Ike Davis, as well as Rocky Point native Dan Burawa.
"I'm extremely honored to be playing for Israel in the upcoming World Baseball Classic," Katz said. "There aren't many opportunities in life to represent something as big as this."
It is an exciting time for Lorraine as well. The 2009 Breaker manager has spent the last seven seasons as a pitching coach in the Seattle Mariners farm system, including last summer when he helped guide Double-A Jackson to the Southern League title. In the fall, the former 13-year pro joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a scout.
Ploeger came to the East End from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where he pitched two seasons for the Golden Lions. In Westhampton, Ploeger went 4-0 with a 0.60 ERA over 15 innings. He struck out 24 over that span, and helped the Aviators reach the 2013 playoffs.
Since graduating, Ploeger has pitched two years for UVV and HCAW of the Dutch Major League. He will join fellow pros Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius and Kenley Jansen on the active roster for the Netherlands, which sits ninth in the current WBSC rankings.
Both Israel and the Netherlands will compete in Pool A alongside South Korea and Chinese Taipei, with Israel and the host nation playing the WBC opener on March 6 at 5 a.m. EST. The 2017 Classic features 16 teams from around the world, including the United States and past champions Japan and Dominican Republic.
