*SIGNED in Japan 2024* RHP with 90-94 MPH Sinker and experience in the Netherlands, Japan, and Indy ball | Baseball Jobs Overseas

*SIGNED in Japan 2024* RHP with 90-94 MPH Sinker and experience in the Netherlands, Japan, and Indy ball

Name: Benjamin Meyer

Height: 190.5cm

Weight: 100kg

DOB: June 6, 1997

Date Available: January 1, 2024

Will Pay Flight

Bats: R

Throws: R

Positions: SP

Positions (alt): RP

College: Claremont McKenna College

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Personal

I played D3 College baseball for Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles California. After college, I spent a year playing in the United States with the Los Angeles Legends (LABL) and the Los Angeles Raptors (PCBL). In 2021, I began my overseas career as a pitcher for UVV Utrecht in the Honkbal Overgangsklasse in the Netherlands.

In college my fastball was 83-85 MPH, but after graduating, I increased my velocity to 88-91, working with a fastball / changeup mix. Between the PCBL and LABL (including playoffs), I went 7-1 while posting a 1.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 over 45 innings with 70 strikeouts. I was named Championship CO-MVP of the PCBL and Championship MVP of the LABL. In 2021, I pitched for UVV Utrecht posting a 2.79 ERA over 38.2 innings as both a starting and relief pitcher.

In 2022, I was promoted to the Dutch Hoofdklasse, playing with the Hoofddorp Pioniers. I had a bit of a learning curve adapting to more advanced hitting, leading the league in homeruns allowed in my first year of service while pitching to a 6.70 ERA. I spent that next offseason with an 8 month training period at Driveline where I replaced my fastball with a sinker and increased my velocity to 94 MPH. This allowed to pitch to more weak contact in the zone, lower my pitch counts, and walk less batters.

In 2023, I hit my stride in the league with the Amsterdam Pirates, allowing just 3 runs on 8 hits over my last 19.2 innings of work and helping to bring home the Holland Series Championship. I also spent part of the 2023 season playing in tournaments such as the Europe Cup, Prague Baseball Week, Sint Maarten Invitational, and Aguascalientes Mexico Torneo de Beisbol, picking up a lot of experience in high pressure games. I finished 2023 summer in Indy Ball in America with the Salem-Keiser Volcanoes, again facing an initial learning curve against higher level hitting before making adjustments. In my final game with the Volcanoes, I pitched to 1 run over 6 IP to get the win in a playoff elimination game. I then played in the Japan Winter League to finish the year, and after making some adjustments to the higher competition level, signed a contract with the Ishikari Red Phoenix for the summer 2024 season. Between all my leagues and teams in 2023, I finished the year with an 11-4 record over 112.2 innings pitched and a 3.95 ERA.

2020-2023 I worked a full time remote engineering job while playing. However, I am now quitting that job and fully committed to focusing on my baseball career. I will update here about the 2024 summer season in Japan and will be looking for a place to play winter 2024. My summer contract ends on October 15, 2024 and I will be available after that.

As for pitching development, I am currently working on increasing my velocity as well as master a Curveball/Slider to pair with my Sinker and Changeup so that I can increase my strikeout rates.

Heres a pitching video from Driveline and Prague Baseball Week 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13v0s3bFEf0

Overseas Baseball Goals: 
I’m looking for a team where I can have a large impact on the mound. My goal is become the best player I can be, compete at the highest levels I can, and win championships along the way. I aim one day to compete in the top overseas leagues such as in Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Australia.

Playing Experience

YEARSORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2016-2019 Claremont McKenna College NCAA D3 Utility / Relief pitcher
2019 Los Angeles Raptors Pacific Coast Baseball League Starting Pitcher / Closer / Utility
2019 Los Angeles Legends Los Angeles Baseball League Starting Pitcher / Closer / Utility
2021 Los Angeles Legends Los Angeles Baseball League Starting Pitcher
2021 UVV Utrecht Honkbal Overgangsklasse Starting Pitcher / Closer / DH
2022 Hoofddorp Pioniers Honkbal Hoofdklasse Starting Pitcher
2023 Amsterdam Pirates Honkbal Hoofdklasse Relief Pitcher
2023 Salem-Keiser Volcanoes Mavericks Independent League Starting Pitcher
2023 Suns Japan Winter League Starting Pitcher

Coaching Experience

YEARROLEORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2021 Freshmen Team Coach Oak Park High School Coastal Canyon League Ran freshmen team practices and coached the team during games

Stats

Pro/Overseas Batting

Years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2021 UVV Utrecht 2 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 .333 .428 .333

Pro/Overseas Pitching

Year Team ERA GS CG IP H SO BB HBP R ER Wins Losses SV WHIP
2021 UVV Utrecht 2.79 2 0 38.2 20 36 29 2 15 12 4 0 0 1.32
2022 Hoofddorp Pioniers 6.70 8 0 41.2 55 30 24 4 36 31 1 6 0 1.92
2023 Amsterdam Pirates 3.60 0 0 20.0 14 16 7 1 8 8 1 0 0 1.10
2023 Salem-Keiser Volcanoes 5.14 2 0 21 28 14 5 0 17 12 1 0 0 1.57
2023 Suns 5.40 5 0 26.2 26 27 19 1 26 16 3 2 1.73

College/Amateur Pitching

Year Team ERA GS CG IP H SO BB HBP R ER Wins Losses SV WHIP
2016-2019 CMS 7.88 0 0 16.0 23 14 9 - 18 14 0 0 1 2.00
2019 Los Angeles Raptors 1.35 2 0 20.0 17 26 11 0 8 3 3 0 0 1.40
2019 Los Angeles Legends 1.20 2 1 15.0 7 17 3 0 3 2 2 0 0 0.80
2021 Los Angeles Legends 0.60 3 0 15.0 5 27 6 2 1 1 2 1 0 0.73

Video Highlights

Testimonials

Scott Tenen

Los Angeles Dodgers, Former Clubhouse Assistant
scottietenen@gmail.com

Character wise, one of the hardest working players I have ever met. Really smart kid and has a real passion for baseball! He is the kid who turned himself into a ball player from not much at all. Definitely an over achiever.

Jesse Davis

Los Angeles Raptors, Manager
jesse.powerhouse@gmail.com

Ben Meyer is a specimen of an athlete. Physically, his presence is powerful and dominating. His force on the mound as well as his precision to locate pitches provide a cause for concern for the opposing team. Mix in his affable character and drive to always be better, he's a teammate and leader that every team and organization deserves.

Adam Leavitt

California Lutheran College, Assistant Coach
leavitt.adam@protonmail.com

I've known Ben since he was 12. An incredible work ethic, and a very smart young man who comes from good morals. Big, strong athletic kid.

Additional Info

Overseas goals: Play at the highest level that I can and become the best player I can be. Compete to win championships. Travel to new countries and experience new cultures.

Playing Preferences: Asia/Mexico (Summer), Australia/Caribbean (Winter)

Living preferences: Living costs covered / provided

Return home: I can stay as long as it takes to complete a season

Prior engagements: None

Recent injuries/illnesses: None

Traveling with a companion: None