USA – The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Dutch national team pitcher Leon Boyd to a minor league contract after an impressive showing in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Boyd played a key role as the closer for the Netherlands in a pair of stunning upsets over the Dominican Republic in the first round of the WBC in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On March 7, the Canadian hurler sealed a 3-2 victory against the Dominican Republic in his first career relief appearance by striking out Jose Bautista to earn the save. Three days later, Boyd picked up the win as the Dutch ousted the Dominicans from the tournament.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who has been a member of the Dutch squad since 2006, went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA at last summer’s Beijing Olympics.

Boyd, who maintains a personal blog which chronicles his baseball journey, posted a 10-2 record for DOOR Neptunus of the Dutch Major League last season with a 1.64 ERA and 86 strikeouts. His road to the minor leagues began at a junior league in Canada and has taken him to Oklahama (college), Belgium, the Netherlands, and back home with the Blue Jays organization.

The Dutch Major League, which level has been described as somewhere between Single-A and Double-A, and the Italian Baseball League are generally recognized as the top baseball leagues in Europe.

Tags: Netherlands