Blue Jays sign 19 year old Belgian outfielder Sam Buelens

[King]

I don't think he'll struggle too much in going to the US, unless he's sent to redneck ville he shouldn't have a problem. Maybe the DR will be tougher but I really think people overestimate the culture change factor.

 

I agree actually. He'll of course have a bit of an adjustment settling into the USA as any foreigner would but I'm sure the organization has been in the situation enough times that they should help make the transition easy.

 

I'm fairly confident he won't be sent to the DSL though.

[King]

How does he compare to Kalfus?

 

Slap hitting corner outfielder, good comp lol

[Atothe]

Extended spring training, short season ball is my guess for where he winds up.

 

More like two seasons in extended spring training and glc

[TheHurl]

It indeed does. So is this guy good or something?

 

Maybe he's got 5 years in the Belgium highest league which would make him exempt from international spending. You don't actually have to get paid, just be 5 years in a pro league.

[GD]

Maybe he's got 5 years in the Belgium highest league which would make him exempt from international spending. You don't actually have to get paid, just be 5 years in a pro league.

 

He's 19. I doubt he has 5 years in the highest Belgium league. But if he does, then yeah.

[TheHurl]

To get an idea of the level of play in the Belgium Pro League. I found a few stats.

 

Tom Magrann Catcher with 10 (0 fer) MLB PA's and a .661 MiLB OPS won the leagues triple crown when he played there with .625 avg, 18 HR's in 15 games. Joel McKeon who got 2 years and 54 IP with the ChiSox never lost a game in his three years in Belgium.

[Deadpool]

To get an idea of the level of play in the Belgium Pro League. I found a few stats.

 

Tom Magrann Catcher with 10 (0 fer) MLB PA's and a .661 MiLB OPS won the leagues triple crown when he played there with .625 avg, 18 HR's in 15 games. Joel McKeon who got 2 years and 54 IP with the ChiSox never lost a game in his three years in Belgium.

 

15 game season? So basically we just did the whole "this is a good athlete, maybe we can teach him to play baseball..." thing. Well, not a huge outlay in dollars (I'd guess) and who knows, right?

[TheHurl]

15 game season? So basically we just did the whole "this is a good athlete, maybe we can teach him to play baseball..." thing. Well, not a huge outlay in dollars (I'd guess) and who knows, right?

 

They play 2 games a week from April to September. I think Magrann just happened to do well enough in those 15 games.

[King]

15 game season? So basically we just did the whole "this is a good athlete, maybe we can teach him to play baseball..." thing. Well, not a huge outlay in dollars (I'd guess) and who knows, right?

 

A lot of videos his dad posted on youtube were from MLB showcases, that's where they probably saw him (and liked him enough to sign).

[o2cui2i]

To get an idea of the level of play in the Belgium Pro League. I found a few stats.

 

Tom Magrann Catcher with 10 (0 fer) MLB PA's and a .661 MiLB OPS won the leagues triple crown when he played there with .625 avg, 18 HR's in 15 games. Joel McKeon who got 2 years and 54 IP with the ChiSox never lost a game in his three years in Belgium.

 

probably a double header on Saturdays plus they would have a national tournament at least once a year for senior and junior team in the club. If the team does well in the national tournament it's probably 3 weekends of play.

[o2cui2i]

Maybe he's got 5 years in the Belgium highest league which would make him exempt from international spending. You don't actually have to get paid, just be 5 years in a pro league.

 

I doubt their highest league would be pro. They would still have full time jobs. Not sure any European country has a "pro" league.

 

It's entirely possible a 19 year old could play 5 years in top division though. If he is a big kid and really talented he'd probably find a spot, but it would probably be with the junior team and not the senior team. Almost every club in Europe has at least 2 teams. an under 18 and a senior team. in some countries they have an under 21 division as well. each age group has to qualify for the division they play in. Think college division ranking.

 

the thing is that the top league in some countries would include every club that could field a team.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Hopefully this kid turns out a wee bit better than the last major Blue Jay signing from Belgium......................Interbrew!

[King]

 

EE and Sam Buelens

[KingKat]

 

EE and Sam Buelens

 

Seems pretty short for a Belgian athlete (I'm assuming Flemish Belgian here, otherwise he's par for the course).

[flafson]

He looks fit, that's always a good sign.

[Inklink]

Phew. When I saw this thread bumped, I thought it'd be about him voiding his contract and signing with the Braves instead.

 

On a related note, I had a waffle this morning.

[G-Snarls]

He looks fit, that's always a good sign.

 

Edwin also looks pretty trim

[Governator]

Edwin also looks pretty trim

 

Yeah seriously he looks good.

[L54]

If he's DH'ing I'd prefer more bulk and muscle

 

Not sure if srs

[Governator]

If he's DH'ing I'd prefer more bulk and muscle

 

I think he just trimmed some fat off by the looks of it.

[L54]

Not sure if you understand human biology or not... if you lose weight you are guaranteed to lose muscle... if you are weight training while cutting you will maintain a higher percentage of that muscle, of course, but it's impossible not to lose some. The ability to hit homeruns is obviously not directly related to muscle, more so it's related to speed and agility, nevertheless muscle mass is an aspect of hitting homeruns that should not be depreciated.

 

Flawed logic is flawed.

 

Hitting home runs and muscle mass are not in direct correlation of each other. Just because someone has "cut" doesn't mean they have lost strength. In lots of cases it's actually the opposite.

[Candy Maldonado]

What's wrong with this board, ffs. Read my post again.

 

Did not say this. Did not imply this either.

 

Actually yes it does. You can not lose weight without losing some strength overall, that's a human biological fact unless you are taking some kind of steroids

 

I could cut and then go on a strength routine and then be stronger than I was when I was heavier.

[fmradioguy]

Not sure if you understand human biology or not... if you lose weight you are guaranteed to lose muscle... if you are weight training while cutting you will maintain a higher percentage of that muscle, of course, but it's impossible not to lose some. The ability to hit homeruns is obviously not directly related to muscle, more so it's related to speed and agility, nevertheless muscle mass is an aspect of hitting homeruns that should not be depreciated.

 

 

As I've always understood it, trimming fat is not the same as losing weight. You can trim fat and not only maintain your muscle mass but actually gain. You can look thinner and fitter without much change on the scale at all.

[King]

http://i.imgur.com/Ka4ulkO.png

 

Sam hanging out at the Mall on an off day. Looks like he is going to start in the DSL, as the season starts next Saturday.

 

Kevin Vicuña is in this picture too, so looks like he will also start in the DSL.

[Angrioter]

http://i.imgur.com/Ka4ulkO.png

 

Sam hanging out at the Mall on an off day. Looks like he is going to start in the DSL, as the season starts next Saturday.

 

Kevin Vicuña is in this picture too, so looks like he will also start in the DSL.

Maybe, I'll go to the first game.

[King]

Maybe, I'll go to the first game.

 

Emmanuel Moreta and Bryan Lizardo are in the USA, Rodrigo Orozco (blue shirt) will return to the DSL for his 3rd season

[King]

Yonardo Hernandez and Sam

http://i.imgur.com/mi7dzTJ.png

 

Sam and coaches

http://i.imgur.com/qbsdkGJ.png

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/a0U4p11.png

 

Edwin Fuentes, Dennis Villatoro, Sam, Rodrigo Orozco and OJ Gutierrez

http://i.imgur.com/z8k19va.png

 

Yonardo Herdenez and Sam

http://i.imgur.com/Yko8FOm.png

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/mqqNM9r.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/WO9BIwY.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/fGkNPrk.png

Edited May 25, 2015 by King

[ElNik2013]

Why you posting pics of young men with shirts on?

[Angrioter]

Why you posting pics of young men with shirts on?

 

So weird

[ElNik2013]

So weird

 

 

Yeah, king is showing he's changing though. Look at his avatar now, no shirtless boys...not that there's anything wrong with it.