Ferenc Jongejan

Ferenc Jongejan

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 170 lb.

• Schools Lindenwood University, University of North Alabama

• Born October 20, 1978 in Hoorn, North Holland The Netherlands

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Ferenc Jongejan pitched twice in the Olympics and reached AAA but his career was over by age 27 due to injury.

Jongejan was with the Dutch team in the 2000 Olympics at age 21. He struck out 10 and allowed 2 hits, a walk and a hitsman in 5 1/3 IP. He had a 3.38 ERA and saved two of the Netherlands' three wins. Despite being a reliever, he led the team in strikeouts. He also led the Olympics in saves. He was with Neptunus in Hoofdklasse at this time.

The Chicago Cubs signed Jongejan. In 2001, he was 2-5 with 16 saves and a 1.99 ERA for the Lansing Lugnuts but had a WHIP of 1.62 ERA in 48 appearances. He was chosen to the Midwest League All-Star team as the top left-handed relief pitcher in the league. He was with the Dutch squad for the 2001 Baseball World Cup, striking out 10 in 7 2/3 IP, saving one game and having a 2.35 ERA. He tied Patrick Beljaards and Rob Cordemans for the team lead in strikeouts.

Jongejan was 3-4 with 2 saves and a 3.34 ERA in 62 games for the 2002 West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. He tied for the Southern League lead with 3 balks and was just 3 appearances shy of the league lead. He struggled in 2003 with the Iowa Cubs, going 2-1 with a save and a 5.59 ERA in 29 games while battling injury.

Jongejan split 2004 between the Daytona Cubs (2-1, 3 Sv, 3.60) and the Dutch Olympic team, allowing only one hit and no runs in 4 1/3 innings in the 2004 Olympics. Dave Draijer was the only other Dutch hurler with a 0.00 ERA.

Chicago let Jongejan go after 2004. He reached a verbal agreement with the Colorado Rockies but there were visa problems. He then signed with the San Angelo Colts but did not make it into a game with them. Jongejan's arm problems also prevented a comeback in Hoofdklasse and Neptunus let him go officially in 2007.

Overall, Jongejan was 9-11 with 22 saves and a 3.31 ERA in the minors and had a 2.04 ERA and 3 saves for the "Orange."

Jongejan coached for the Netherlands in the 2011 World Youth Championship. In 2013, he was the independent contractor scout for the Philadelphia Phillies for the Netherlands. He also was head coach for UVV, going 17-25 and finishing 5th place. They were 14-25 in 2014 and 16-26 in 2015. After a fall to 9-33 and 7th place in 2016 Hoofdklasse, he was replaced by Ty Eriksen.

Sources

• Defunct IBAF site
• Honkbalsite
• 2002-2005 Baseball Almanacs