Main league expertise is hard to search out for any scout, but Troy Williams has it more durable than most.
He scours Europe, Africa and the Center East for the Yankees. These locations aren’t precisely hotbeds for future massive leaguers.
With official prospects so scarce in his assigned areas, Williams takes additional delight when the Yankees signal certainly one of his suggestions. That occurred in December, as he helped the Bombers ink Netherlands native Tijn Fredrikze.
Tijn Fredrikze (l.) and Yankees scout Troy Williams (Picture Courtesy Tijn Fredrikze).
The 18-year-old pitching prospect, who obtained a $90,000 bonus amid some turnover within the Yankees’ worldwide scouting division, is believed to be the primary European-born and raised participant to signal with the group since Poland’s Artur Strzałka did so in 2013.
Strzałka by no means made it previous rookie ball. Fredrikze has his sights set a lot greater.
Clearly, Fredrikze already is aware of how you can pander to Yankees fan, however it’ll take numerous time, persistence and growth for him to realize such lofty feats.
“There’s lots of things he’s gotta continue to work on and do to progress and get better,” Williams stated, however he added that, “We wouldn’t be signing a child if we didn’t hope and anticipate and count on him to make the large league roster sometime.
“I hope we’re talking about him a decade from now.”
Williams, who stated that different scouts performed a component in signing Fredrikze, has had his eyes on the pitcher for a number of years. In 2025, he noticed Fredrikze, a lot youthful than the common competitors, lead the Dutch Main League with 76 strikeouts whereas posting a 3.90 ERA over 60 innings for Kinheim in Haarlem, North Holland. Fredrikze did so with a fastball that ranges from 88-91 mph and a go-to curveball. He additionally throws a sinker and a changeup.
A have a look at MLB World Choose Group’s Tijn Fredrikze. The LHP had an awesome outing on the mound at this time showcasing a top quality 3-pitch combine.
FB: 85-86, 88CH: 80-81CB: 77-78
Profile: https://t.co/bSQiMhpdjS pic.twitter.com/sGhTsMnYXe
Williams likes Fredrikze’s make-up and mound presence — “he never backed down against anybody” — however famous that the hurler should enhance his command and velocity. The latter ought to occur naturally, as Fredrikze expects to develop past his present 6-foot, scrawny stature.
“Docs told me I’m going to be 6-2, 6-3ish,” he stated, a touch of hope in his voice. “My father and my grandparents grew until they were 21, so I think it’s still possible.”
Fredrikze, who will start his state-side profession as a starter within the rookie-level Florida Advanced League, stated that he plans on reporting to the Yankees’ participant growth complicated in Tampa in February or early March. At that time, he might be 1000’s of miles from the Netherlands.
Nonetheless, Fredrikze feels well-equipped for the problem, as he’s been a part of TeamNL, a Dutch program that acts as a boarding faculty for baseball gamers and required him to dwell on his personal for two.5 years whereas coaching twice a day and enjoying in video games. Fredrikze, who additionally attended the Rotterdam academy run by former Yankee Robert Eenhoorn, has traveled to Puerto Rico and Barcelona, the place he participated in MLB’s European Improvement Match, for baseball as effectively.
He’s used to being on the go, and he’s comfy with the English language. Fredrikze additionally sought recommendation from fellow countrymen who performed professionally in America, together with former Purple Sox farmhand Stijn Van Der Schaaf, as he went by the signing course of with the Yankees.
“It’s going to be different because you’re far away from home, but I think the basics have been set already,” Fredrikze stated.
Fredrikze definitely wasn’t going to let distance stand in his approach, as he has imagined being a giant leaguer since he began enjoying baseball at age 6. He was a little bit of an outlier amongst his friends, as soccer is the highest sport on the Netherlands mainland, which has solely produced 11 MLB gamers, together with ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius and Corridor of Famer Bert Blyleven.
However Fredrikze stated he was drawn to the “aura” of one other Cooperstown immortal, as he idolized one-time Yankee and fellow southpaw Randy Johnson. Nowadays, two different lefties, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and the Yankees’ Max Fried, are Fredrikze’s “biggest idols.”
He can’t wait to introduce himself to the latter this spring.
That Fredrikze will even be ready to take action is a supply of immense gratification.
“It means a lot,” he stated of becoming a member of the Yankees. “I’ve been working on this for a while now. It’s been my dream, and to see it come out this way, I couldn’t describe it better. I think it’s the best you can do. It’s the biggest organization out there, so I’m just really proud.”
