Misja Harcksen

From BR Bullpen

Misja Harcksen

  • Bats Right, *Throws Right
  • Height 6' 2", Weight 165 lb.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Misja Harcksen has pitched in the minors and in the Netherlands. He threw the third perfect game in Hoofdklasse history.

Harcksen was the second-worst Dutch hurler in the 2011 World Youth Championship (9 H, 5 R, 4 ER in 1 2/3 IP). In the 2013 European Junior Championship, he took a 10-9 loss to Italy; he fanned 11 in 4 1/3 IP and allowed 3 runs (one earned) in two outings. He made his Hoofdklasse debut that season, allowing eight hits and one run in eight innings, going 1-0 in 2013. He won the Roel de Mon Award as the best youth player in the Netherlands. He participated in the MLB European Academy that year as well.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (behind scouts Bob Engle and Eugene Grimaldi) signed Harcksen in the 2013-2014 off-season. He opened 2014 back with DOOR Neptunus in the Hoofdklasse and had a role in a history-making game April 27th. Neptunus became the first Hoofdklasse team to 1,000 wins and Harcksen got the decision in a 12-4 victory over the Vaessen Pioniers. He relieved Floris Timmer in the 5th and tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings (3 H, 0 BB, 2 K).

Harcksen made his U.S. debut with the AZL Dodgers later in 2014, posting a 4.91 ERA in 7 appearances. He was 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in the 2014 Hoofdklasse. Despite spending part of the year in the US, he was 4th in the league in ERA (between legendary Rob Cordemans and Arshwin Asjes), 4th in opponent average (.202, between Cordemans and Sedley Karel) and tied for 8th in wins. He pitched seven hitless, scoreless innings (3 BB, 5 K) in the 2014 European Cup and got the opening win over KTNU Elizavetgrad. He tied Justin Kuehn and Orlando Yntema for the event lead in ERA. He was not with Neptunus when they won the 2014 Holland Series.

He split 2015 between the AZL Dodgers (1-0, 1.46 in 10 G, 18 K:2 BB in 12 1/3 IP) and Ogden Raptors (7.71 ERA in 8 G, 20 H in 11 2/3 IP). In '16, he ended his time in the Dodgers system by averaging over a K per IP and spent time with the AZL Dodgers (3-0, 3.86 in 12 G) and Ogden (0-1, 6.94); he fanned 36 in 30 1/3 innings. He returned to Neptunus for the 2016 Holland Series and lost the opener. Relieving Loek van Mil in the 12th with a 5-5 game against the Amsterdam Pirates, he allowed a single to Kenny Berkenbosch, who advanced on a grounder. Linoy Croes was intentionally walked and Rashid Gerard grounded the runners over. A passed ball by Dashenko Ricardo let the winning run score. Patrick Bok walked then Remco Draijer grounded out but the damage had been done.

The right-hander was knocked about by the Mainz Athletics in the 2017 European Champions Cup, giving up 5 hits, 4 walks and 7 runs (5 earned) and not retiring any one in the second inning before Jan Tomek relieved; Neptunus rallied but lost, 7-6. He came back the next day for a four-batter save against the Rouen Huskies, relieving Kevin Kelly. He tied Filippo Crepaldi and Norbert Jongerius for the event lead in saves but had a 19.29 ERA. He had four saves and a 4.28 ERA in the 2017 Hoofdklasse campaign, tying Glenn Wassink and Jan Evertse for 4th in the league in appearances (18) and tying for first in saves (with Karel, Oscar Meuris, Daan Hendrix, Maickel Rietel and Berry van Driel). He did not pitch in the 2017 Holland Series, which Neptunus won.

Leaving Neptunus in 2018 Hoofdklasse, he signed with the Oosterhout Twins and became a starter. He was 6-6 with a 3.72 ERA as their #2 pitcher after Shogo Nakashima. He finished 3rd in the league with 97 K (in 84 2/3 IP), behind Chris Pfau and Lars Huijer. and tied for 3rd in losses. In the 2018 Haarlem Baseball Week, he was on the Dutch team but did not get into a game.

Returning to Neptunus in 2019, he did a number on his old Twins teammates on April 14 when he threw the third perfect game in Hoofdklasse history, 22 years after Eelco Jansen had thrown the second.

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