Some news about the German Minor Leaguers. Max Kepler of the Minnesota Twins has been nominated to play in the Arizona Fall League. He will become the third German player to suit up in Arizona after Kai Gronauer and Donald Lutz in previous years. Kepler missed the start of the 2013 season due to a nagging elbow injury. He eventually joined the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Midwest League and batted .237/.312/.424 with nine home runs, 35 runs and 40 RBI. The 20-year-old outfielder, who also played 24 games at first, struggled after a strong start and is supposed to get some more playing time in the highly regarded AFL.

Meanwhile Kai Gronauer (Triple-A, New York Mets) and Daniel Thieben (Rookie, Seattle Mariners) have returned to Germany following the completion of their respective Minor League seasons in the Pacific Coast League and Appalachian League. Both will strengthen their home clubs during the Baseball-Bundesliga playoffs. Gronauer suits up with the Solingen Alligators in game three to five of their semi-finals against the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe. Thieben is going to pitch for the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg in their series against the Bonn Capitals. Donald Lutz (Double-A, Cincinnati Reds), who made his Major League debut this year, had seen his season got cut short due to a fractured finger, is going to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Saturday’s matchup between the Buchbinder Legionaere and Capitals.