Jermain Esprit

Jermain Esprit

• Bats Right (Switch-hitter at one point), Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.

• Born November 10, 1979 in Curacao

Jermain Esprit is an outfielder who played three years in the minors and is starting his sixth season in Hoofdklasse Honkbal in 2007.

Esprit was a successful runner in his youth. In 1998, he had the best time in a track competition in The Hague, running the 100-meter dash in 10.47 seconds.

Esprit was at the Play Ball baseball academy. He then spent three years in the Cleveland Indians chain from 1999-2001. The first year, he hit .284 with 10 RBI for the San Felipe team in the Venezuelan Summer League. In 2000, Jermain hit .188/.274/.188 in 28 games for the Burlington (NC) Indians, with 11 steals (in 13 tries) and 13 runs. He struck out in 31 of 85 AB. Despite his limited playing time, he led the Appalachian League with 11 errors in the outfield. Returning to Burlington for 2001, he batted .241/.280/.250 with 8 steals in 12 tries and 29 strikeouts in 112 AB.

In 2002, he moved to Hoofdklasse with Almere and tied for 10th in the league with 9 steals. He played for the Dutch national team in the 2002 Intercontinental Cup and appeared twice as a pinch-runner. He was caught stealing once and scored one run. The next season, the outfielder hit .311 for the Tornado's, 10th in Hoofdklasse. He was sixth with 52 hits, tied Enrique Kroon for second with five triples, one behind Greg Halman. He stole 24 bases in 29 tries and led the loop in swipes.

During 2004, Esprit played for Kinheim and stole 11 bases while being caught 7 times. He tied for third with Raily Legito and Norbert Lokhorst in the league in steals behind Mike Duursma and Ralph Milliard. He remained with Kinheim in 2005.

Esprit moved to ADO during the 2006 season and hit .215/.309/.262 with 4 steals in 8 tries despite being a frequent leadoff hitter. He fared even worse in 2007, batting .176/.216/.176 with 5 steals in 8 tries in 33 games.

Primary Sources: Honkbalsite.com, 2001-2002 Baseball Almanacs, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database