Connor Prinze has signed a professional contract with MLB club Seattle Mariners. “Playing in MLB is my dream and with this contract I’m really one step closer to making that dream come true. That’s pretty cool,” says the 19-year-old pitcher from Badhoevedorp.

Prinz moves on from Dutch champions Pirates from Amsterdam. He was in the interest of no less than fifteen All-American college teams, but when the Seattle Mariners moved forward, the selection was quickly made.

Prince impressed a Mariners scout when he visited a training ground. “The day after I sat down with my family and scouts to discuss everything. Immediately I said ‘yes’,” Prinze said on the Major League Baseball website.

At the beginning of March, Prince will leave for the United States. Not to Seattle by the way, but to Arizona. “I’m going to get into the Arizona Mariners summer league, the junior league practice team. I’ve got to grow from there.”

“How fast it is is entirely up to me. The better I play, the faster. My goal is to make progress every year. In terms of baseball—more aggressively pitching style, adaptability—and in terms of physical fitness—gaining weight, getting stronger in the tackle.” The high intensity of play in MLB.”