Kai Gronauer

  • South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 2010
  • Homerun Award Championship Netherlands 2012

Kai Achim Gronau ( born November 28, 1986 in Solingen ) is a German Baseball National Player of the catcher position. In April 2008, he was taken by the New York Mets under contract.

Life

Gronau attended the August- thickness School in Solingen. He began his career at the Solingen Alligators, where he played at the position of catcher. In 2006 he won the championship with the Alligators and became the youngest national team of Germany. After the European Championships in Barcelona more U.S. teams were aware of him. In January 2008, he wanted the Minnesota Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates commit. However, he refused on the grounds that he would presently go no interest in the U.S., but wanted to get an education in Germany.

In April 2008, the New York Mets had requested and a scout sent to Germany, he changed his mind. He signed a contract for two years and played from 2008 in 16 games for the Gulf Coast League Mets in the Gulf Coast League, a rookie league in the Minor Leagues. With the start of the 2009 season, he was appointed to the Savannah Sand Gnats in the South Atlantic League ( single-A ).

Gronau was invited as a non- roster invitee - preparation for the season, Spring Training, the New York Mets in early 2010. There he came in the Grapefruit League against the Florida Marlins to use and had a hit in two at-bats. On 9 March 2010 he was transferred from Major League camp in the minor league camp and the 2010 season began back in Savannah. On 7 June 2010 he was appointed with five other players in the sand gnats in the all-star team of the South Atlantic League. This Gronau is the first German to be nominated in a U.S. professional league in baseball as an All -Star. At the beginning of the second half of the season Gronau was transferred from the sand gnats to the St. Lucie Mets in the Class A Advanced Florida State League. In his first games for the Mets, he showed offensively strong performances - he beat fifth the batting order - and quickly secured a place in the tribe - nine. In 2011, he was re-appointed as a non- roster invitee to spring - training camp of the New York Mets. There he came in three games for the Mets to use, beating a home run, but was added at the first reduction of the roster as last year in the minor league camp. With the beginning of the season he was used as a second catcher beside Jean Luc Blaquiere at Double -A Binghamton Mets team.

After his injury in the summer, he showed at the end of the season increasing performance. After the season Gronau represented the German national team at the World Cup in Panama, where the Mets then put him even for a few games at a local club to additionally give him after his injury lay-off match practice.

In spring 2012, Gronau has been invited to the camp of the STEP Mets, where he prepared for the upcoming season.

In the fall of 2012 Gronau participated with the German national team at the European Championship in the Netherlands. Here he was awarded the Homerunaward the tournament. After a fourth place at the European Championship, Gronau with the National Team at the Wold Baseball Classic Qualifier in Regensburg in the playoff for the starting place in the World Baseball Classic in 2013. However, where they were beaten by the enemy from Canada.

The 2013 season begins Gronau in Triple -A team of the New York Mets, the Las Vegas 51s. He is thus the first German baseball player who has made ​​it to this level.

Quotes

In an interview with Thomas Rademacher Gronau said: "I believe that I can eventually get into the Major League. Ultimately, I would not want to play with the intention of Double-A or Triple -A, going to the U.S.. "

"As a catcher, he's advanced. It's a pleasure to see him call games, the way he leads pitchers and picks up things to help them out. " Tony Bernazard, NY Mets Head of player development

" He's a guy did makes contact, does not strike out a lot, Has the potential for some power and is going to be of outstanding defensive catcher and leader. " Lionel Chat Telle, Scout NY Mets

" Best Defensive Catcher " Mets system, Baseball America

"The defensive tools are there with enough stick That should carry him to New York. ", Jon Star, Scout.com

Kai Gronau: " I want to be at ambassador for baseball, Especially in Germany. "

Run (Baseball) Slugging Percentage Minor League Baseball Hit (Baseball) Savannah (Georgia) Batting Order (Baseball)
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