EXL: From national team to Extraliga. Willie Escala will play for Hroši
Only a year ago very few Czech fans knew name Willie Escala. However, after a successful World Baseball Classic qualification Escala took a spot on Pavel Chadim’s team roster and he caught an eye of Czech fans at the main tournament. And they will now have a chance to see him in Extraliga.
Charismatic player should join Hroši Brno, as the club announced on their web pages. They also note that Escala will not play the entire season for the club, but will join them at the beginning and then at the end. He will play in American independent league in between.
„We would like to have a long-term partnership. He will play and train in the upcoming month and then he will move to the United States. If the schedule of the professional league allows it, he will join back at the end of the season. Even if playoff doesn’t work he will work with the team over winter. Anytime he wants to play in Europe he has a place with us,“ said manager Alex Derhak.
Escala played 5 seasons in D1 NCAA, where he played 194 games, with BA .274. He spent the previous season in independent Frontier League playing for Sussex County, where he had OBP .421 in 25 games. At World Baseball Classic he played all 4 games, earning 1 hit and 1 walk.
