Former Marlin and current Oriole, Rick VandenHurk was nice enough to do a Q&A for the readers of the site. Below are my questions along with Rick's answers.

 

Make sure and take a look at EuropeanBigLeagueTour.com to see what Rick is doing for kids in Europe this off-season.

 

MarlinsBaseball.com: How was the transition of moving to the United States to do what you love without knowing if you were going to succeed?

 

Rick VandenHurk: Growing up I wanted to do nothing else then play baseball and dream about playing in the Major Leagues, so when the opportunity arose to go to the U.S. And play for the Florida Marlins Organisation the Decision was easy for me. Coming from The Netherlands a very small country and going to the USA is of course a big transition but You get used to the baseball environment and life style. There was only one mission and that was pitching in the Big League's, I'd never thought that I was not going to succeed that, but over the years playing and having to deal with lot of adversity you keep holding on and working towards that dream!

 

MB.com: There have been various conflicting reports about this. What languages do you really speak?

 

Rick: Haha, There has been allot of conflicts of what languages I speak,it's nothing crazy, for Europeans is taught in school,cause our countries are so small,so lot of people speak multiple languages. but it's Dutch, german, english and Spanish ,the main 3 I use in every day life are Dutch English Spanish.

 

MB.com: What inspired you to put together the European Baseball Tour?

 

Rick: Over the last couple years there's has been allot of questions from other players and coaches about: Do they even play baseball in Europe? And how did you come all the way from there to play over here? What allot of people don't know is that there are baseball leagues in almost every European country. So I taught at the end of 2008 why not set up a couple of clinics so European baseball fans can meet Big League Players and the players experience Europe and teach the game we love to the kids.

 

MB.com: You were signed by the Marlins as a catcher before being converted to a pitcher. Was pitching something you had ever done previously?

 

Rick: Yes i pitched up until I was 12, in the youth baseball on the smaller fields, but when we started playing on the big fields i was a catcher an right fielder.

 

MB.com: How difficult was the move from the only organization you had known to the Orioles when you were traded this year?

 

Rick: It was tough in the beginning I've been with the marlins since 02. And that's a long period with one organisation. But everybody at the Orioles organisation have been great and that makes the transition al lot easier.

 

MB.com: Do you still keep an eye on the Marlins at all?

 

Rick: Of course I follow them, I keep in touch with a couple guys as well.

 

MB.com: What's your most memorable experience thus far in your baseball career?

 

Rick: My Most memorable moment in my career is my first Win at Turner Field And the 2009 World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico and advancing to the second round in Miami.

 

MB.com: You've bounced around between the bullpen and the rotation in the majors. Would you rather start or work in a relief role?

 

Rick: this is the first year where I've been in the Bullpen. I've always started so I do prefer starting, but either way as long as i can pitch up in the Big Leagues of course.

 

MB.com: If you weren't a baseball player, what would you be doing?

 

Rick: If I weren't a baseball player I want to be a Profesional Football (soccer) player.

 

MB.com: What advice can you give young fans who'd like to follow in your footsteps?

 

Rick: My advice is:

Keep working hard and take nothing for granted and Get after it! Remember You and only you control your own destiny! Work your Butt off, throw strikes and have fun! -Bert Blijleven.

One of the many great text messages I get fr.om Bert! He's the best!

Good to hear from the hurk.. hope he does well in baltimore.

 

nice job Admin

I always liked RVH and I even called in to that "Town Hall" phone chat before the beginning of the season to ask how Rick would be used this year.

 

Hope he does well in Baltimore, I'll be rooting for him!

Cool, good interview Admin! Really cool of RVH to do the interview. Like everyone else has said, I hope he does well also

A cousin of Bert Blyleven is in my class at school. She was surprised that a young person knew him. I was like, well the Marlins have a pitcher.....

RVH

...i had no idea he was with Baltimore. what the heck? good interview, though

Glad to hear RVH is doing well. Always thought highly of him. I'm rooting for him to become a very good pitcher with the Orioles.

...i had no idea he was with Baltimore. what the heck? good interview, though

 

 

He was traded for our savior, Will Ohman, at the trade deadline.

Nice job, and great of RVH to take the time to discuss things with you.

Sorry to see him in a different uniform, but I certainly wish him success with the Orioles.

Good luck RVH, nice to learn more about you.

Very nice of Rick to sit down and answer some questions for you, Admin.

 

Also pretty cool that he stays in touch with some of the Fish, but after that many years, I'm sure there are some good friendships that evolved.

 

Love it whenever players agree to answer the questions you come up with for them, always fantastic to get their view on things.

It's pretty cool that he took the time to do the interview. Nice job Admin, and thanks to Rick!

that was cool of him ty Admin and RVH

good stuff, I'll always be rooting for Hurk. :thumbup

Four languages – I'm impressed. Also, I didn't know he signed originally as a catcher. Good interview; and surely, I wasn't the only one here who enjoyed seeing RVH and the Dutch team beat the odds in '09.

 

Good luck to you, Rick!

Four languages – I'm impressed. Also, I didn't know he signed originally as a catcher. Good interview; and surely, I wasn't the only one here who enjoyed seeing RVH and the Dutch team beat the odds in '09.

 

Good luck to you, Rick!

 

 

Nor did I. Maybe we could of done with keeping him as a catcher considering our current situation.....

Awesome stuff, Admin!

I was at Camden Yards last weekend and got to see RVH and Andino play. Andino had a fabulous game only needing a triple for the cycle. Rick got the first 2 outs and then struggled, eventually giving up a 3-run shot to Granderson in the inning he pitched. He was pitching well up until that point though. Hopefully he can succeed in Baltimore.

 

Camden Yards is a beautiful stadium by the way.