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Adopted - Kai Gronauer

themetfairy Apr 23 2008 10:16 AM

On behalf of my son's friend who takes German in school and who is excited about the Mets signing a German player, I'll keep an eye on our new international prospect.

MFS62 Apr 23 2008 10:34 AM

You love those catching prospects, eh? Later

themetfairy Apr 23 2008 10:36 AM

I'm actually more of a pitching fan, truth be told. But one doesn't pick one's kids - one's kids pick them.

MFS62 Apr 23 2008 10:44 AM

I didn't know whether to sigh or chuckle. Good luck to your kid. Check the scouting report I posted to the thread about his signing. You may want to link or copy it here. Later

themetfairy Apr 23 2008 10:50 AM

I saw the report, but I'm reluctant to post it here because it doesn't cite source material. Anyway, I'm out the door in a few minutes, so Kai is on his own for the day.

themetfairy Jun 27 2008 03:26 PM

My boy appears to be missing in action. I can't find him on any of the minor team rosters, and he isn't showing up at all on the Google news feed. Kids these days, I tell ya!

MFS62 Jun 27 2008 05:12 PM

themetfairy wrote: I saw the report, but I'm reluctant to post it here because it doesn't cite source material. The source was a Mets fan living in Germany who was the commissioner of a German baseball league. You want his name? Andres Dubai. He used to post on some baseball sites as Dr. Dooby. And I've known him for over ten years. and I TOLD YOU THAT! I try to do you a favor by sending you something, a personal scouting review that you probably could not have gotten elsewhere, about one of your kids and you ask me for the source after I gave it to you? Incredible. Oh, you're welcome. Later

AG/DC Jun 27 2008 05:12 PM

I'd guess he's staying home and working out for the Olympics, but Germany isn't a qualifier.

themetfairy Jun 27 2008 05:40 PM

And any of that would explain where he is now? Whatever.

MFS62 Jun 27 2008 06:17 PM

themetfairy wrote: And any of that would explain where he is now? Whatever. No, but it was a scouting report I sent you when you posted here that you were adopting him. It was appropriate at that time. I personally don't care where he is now, nor waswhat I sent you intended to answer that question. Later

themetfairy Jun 27 2008 06:31 PM

IIRC, there was no link to go along with that report. I wasn't in a position to go chasing after the source material. And since it's not relevant to how he's doing in the Mets organization, ranting about it months later isn't particularly apropos.

MFS62 Jun 27 2008 06:43 PM

Of course there was no link. As I said at the time, it was his personal evaluation sent to me and a few others. But after I told you that, you still asked for the link. When I told you I couldn't send you one, you dismissed it out of hand. When I re-read it after all this time, it still rankled me that this younger generation doesn't accept anything that isn't posted on a public website. Later

themetfairy Jun 27 2008 06:48 PM

Or maybe it's that information specialists are trained not to accept information that cannot be independently verified.

MFS62 Jun 27 2008 07:00 PM

OK, I'll accept that since your studies have been thoroughly discussed on this site (various fora). (calming down) But if I had said that this was a friend who's baseball aptitude and evaluation skills I trusted had told me that he had seen the guy play and this was his opinion, don't you have to accept that as much as any other source? Would you ask for a tape recording of the conversation? Or just accept it as an opinion? And what makes his opinion more or less credible that anyone else's? In fact, I gave you his credentials with his scouting report. Or if someone says IIRC, do you ask for a link to their memory? I'm getting philosophical here, not personal. So please don't take it that way. I'm trying to understand your way of accepting/ not accepting information. And BTW- I was Directory of Quality for a major telecom company and sat on their software quality review board. So please don't patronize me calling yourself an "information specialist". I've project managed the implementation of systems that I'm certain have provided for the security of you and your family as you have gone through Newark Airport. Later

themetfairy Jun 27 2008 07:22 PM

I'm personally not comfortable posting reports from people whom I don't know and can't independently verify. It's one thing you you to post something, explaining who your source is and why you personally trust him. But I'm not comfortable posting anything myself if I don't have a source that I can confirm independently.

MFS62 Jun 28 2008 04:40 AM

OK, fair enough explanation. I can accept that. Later

AG/DC Jun 30 2008 05:53 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 30 2008 06:08 AM

Now that that's done, Kai Gronauer is playing for the Gulf Coast Mets, where opportunities are scarce with six catchers on the roster. He's 0-4.

themetfairy Jun 30 2008 06:06 AM

Thanks Edgy. The Gulf Coast Mets were under my radar - they're not listed on the Mets.com list of minor league affiliates. Why is that?

themetfairy Jul 22 2008 12:31 PM

Having located Kai in the Gulf Coast League, I've had a chance to check out his stats. He's only appeared in five games so far, but he's batting .333 and has 3 RBIs. Not bad baby steps.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 22 2008 12:36 PM

FYI, I've found that the minor league stats on BaseballAmerica.com are much more complete than those on minorleaguebaseball.com. Not that the numbers themselves are inaccurate, but the MiLB site hasn't always been listing all of the players on each team.

themetfairy Jul 22 2008 12:38 PM

Thanks BG - that's good to know.

themetfairy Jul 30 2008 02:27 PM

The good news is that I have an update on Kai. The bad news is that it's in German.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 30 2008 02:35 PM

Yahoo Babel Fish translation wrote: Something sluggishly had come dock Gronauers career as a baseball professional in the USA into rolling. In the meantime the Top talent the alligator in-lived itself however in the USA and for higher tasks was already recommended. It had hoped the Brooklyn Cyclones in the single A to be assigned instead dock Gronauer plays a league under it with the Gulf Coast League Mets. The way into the highest play class, major League baseball, is evenly long. But, if Gronauer shows good achievements in the USA, it will play itself fast up in the organization the New York Mets. Around it only goes in the hard competition of the Baseballer in the USA. Who is recommended at most for higher tasks? Dock Gronauer began thereby. To sobering up a first appearance, the alligator Catcher comes in the meantime powerfully into momentum. Regularly Gronauer creates two hits per portion and ejects opposing runners with the attempt of the base stealing at the second plate. Its impact average up-snapped on far over 40 per cent, which catapults it at all up in its team not only to the most successful Catcher but also into the Gefilde of the best impact people. Offer in training " I am so far very much zufrieden" with my achievement; , dock says Gronauer. Unfortunate it is only that the only German in the Mets organization does not get any more assignments. With the Gulf Coast League Mets Catcher stand for five in the crew, which alternate regularly. " Naturally I bekommen" hoped more play portions too; , Gronauer explains. " There I can change unfortunately in addition, nothing to, except me with good achievement in training and in the plays anzubieten." So it is probably only one question of the time, until the Solinger more play portions gets or is carried into the single A, a high-quality league. " However one must also consider that it is my first professional year and I also a little to the play way get accustomed muss" , Gronauer means. " Therefore it would be seized from air, if I would state that I come this year still into a higher league. I can do that badly einschätzen." No matter, which the coming weeks will bring, the first months as a professional are a success and also a new life experience. Dock Gronauer lives each day nearly nothing else as baseball. Relaxing it does not happen. Already at 6 o'clock begins the day of the Solingers. After training daily the league plays stand on the program starting from 12 o'clock, before against 17 o'clock is usually end of workday. Every to five days nevertheless happens it somewhat more calmly. " Then we frei." already times one day; Its dock Gronauer did not forget colleagues with the Solingen of alligator in all other respects yet. At the end of August has its US team the last plays. After it goes briefly back to Germany. " There I look forward now already to alligator, above all, if we reach the final around the German championship sollten" , the 21-Jährige means. In this case dock Gronauer would stand again for the Solinger as Catcher behind the plate.

Frayed Knot Jul 30 2008 02:45 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 30 2008 04:48 PM

Regularly Gronauer creates two hits per portion and ejects opposing runners with the attempt of the base stealing at the second plate. Its impact average up-snapped on far over 40 per cent, which catapults it at all up in its team not only to the most successful Catcher but also into the Gefilde of the best impact people. Exactly what I was saying!

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 30 2008 03:05 PM

It seems the Mets have two catching prospects named Dock.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 30 2008 03:09 PM

In the meantime the Top talent the alligator in-lived itself however in the USA and for higher tasks was already recommended. What the fuck could this sentence possibly mean? Well, I got myself a new signature.

themetfairy Jul 30 2008 04:02 PM

The Alligators was the name of Kai's team in Germany.

Frayed Knot Jul 30 2008 04:53 PM

In the meantime the Top talent the alligator in-lived itself however in the USA and for higher tasks was already recommended. What the fuck could this sentence possibly mean? I'm going with; The best talent the Alligators ever produced on their own is now in the tougher competition in the USA but still could see a promotion to a higher league in the near future. Either that or it's an encoded appetizer recipe.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 30 2008 08:01 PM

That makes sense. The "in-lived itself however" really threw me off.

themetfairy Apr 07 2009 05:46 AM

Kai is in Savannah this season, under the tutelage of Edgar Alfonzo and sharing a rental with teammates.

Frayed Knot May 01 2009 06:49 AM

Adam Rubin's blog: Kai Gronauer played several sports as a youth growing up in Solingen, Germany, including soccer, tennis, handball and swimming. His first exposure to baseball came when he was 10 or 11, when a friend took him to a practice for a local team after hearing about the sport. A decade later, Gronauer is a Mets farmhand, impressing team brass as the catcher at low-A Savannah. The 22-year-old Gronauer is hitting .237 with a homer and two RBI in 38 at-bats in the South Atlantic League. “My best friend took me to a practice,” Gronauer said. “He heard from the pitcher that there was a baseball team. I stayed with it. That’s how I got to baseball.” “If you’re talking about playing against Team Cuba and Venezuela and Korea and teams like that, he’s pretty well equipped to come over and compete,” said Lionel Chattelle, a German-based scout, referring to Gronauer’s experience while representing the country in international tournaments. “He’s an outstanding guy. He’s mature. He’s hard-working and he’s got the physical tools. If all goes well and he stays healthy, I think he’ll move up quickly." The caliber of baseball in Germany has steadily risen since Gronauer started. Chattelle, who is originally from Connecticut and coached opposite Gronauer in Germany, said he could tell the catcher had the required skills to come to the United States. “I was extremely impressed by him at 18 years old—at the maturity and the way he handled the pitching staff, the way he calmed them down,” Chattelle said. “He just had a sense of how to play the position, even at 18. He has an outstanding arm. He runs really well for a catcher. I think he led the league in stolen bases that year. He has a very quick bat, stays inside the ball and drives the ball well. “He played in the World Cup and also got into the Olympics trials. He was catching two different pitchers that had major-league stuff—one of Cuban origin, who has a German passport, that he was catching, and also a guy who played for me in Bonn who was in the Twins system who could get it up to the mid-90s. That’s when I was really sold on him. He handled them and their stuff. “The analogy that I use for him playing-wise, just my view when I looked at him, I drew a comparison between him and Paul Lo Duca as players. He’s a guy that makes contact, doesn’t strike out a lot, has the potential for some power and is going to be an outstanding defensive catcher and leader.” Still, Gronauer said, playing in the minors has been a step up in competition. “It is a big step up. The German pitching is not as advanced as Latin American and American pitching speed-wise,” he said. “The speed of the game is not as fast, but we are developing very well in Germany. The playing level gets better every year. The top teams in Germany always bring in American players. My team right now brought in a player that played Double-A a couple of years.” There are only three other German players currently in minor-league baseball, who don’t appear on 40-man rosters: lefthander Michael Anton (Angels), righthander Jennell Hudson (Red Sox) and center fielder Jacob Shaffer (Mariners). Chattelle, who officially joined the Mets in 2007, has brought two other European players to the Mets: Marinus Vernooij, 19, from Holland and Thomas DeWolf, 18, from Belgium. Gronauer said his parents, particularly mother Cornelia, don’t fully grasp the sport and its terms. His father, Achim, hopes to get to the United States soon to see his son play for the Sand Gnats. He owns a pocket-knife factory and does business here. “My mother is scared of flying,” Gronauer said. “I told her I’d buy her the plane tickets as soon as I play in Citi Field.”

themetfairy May 09 2009 06:17 AM

Kai is making progress, but has some work to do if he wants to advance past the Sand Gnats level German catcher Kai Gronauer of the Savannah Sand Gnats (Single-A Mets) went three-for-four with a walk and a RBI on Wednesday, raising his batting average of the season to .246 (OBP .323/SLG .333) thru 17 games.

themetfairy Jun 04 2009 05:03 AM

Kai missed yesterday's game with a sore groin.

themetfairy Jun 06 2009 06:13 AM

Like many of his major league brethren, Kai now sits on the disabled list.

themetfairy Jun 20 2009 06:34 AM

Kai homered in last night's Sand Gnats win over Charleston.

themetfairy Jul 01 2009 07:08 AM

Kai's bat seems to be coming along - Kai Gronauer went 1-for-4 in the game offensively and now has a 10-game hitting streak which is one shy of the season-high set by Eric Campbell.

themetfairy Sep 12 2009 05:17 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai is catching for Germany in the Baseball World Cup.

themetfairy Mar 10 2010 05:48 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai is still in the organization, but has been assigned to the minor league camp.

themetfairy Jun 07 2010 02:55 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai is an All Star!

MFS62 Jun 22 2010 09:46 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai will be among six Savannah players who will be promoted to St. Lucie after the SAL All-Star game. http://www.thepaper24-7.com/main.asp?Se ... leID=26545 Later

themetfairy Jun 22 2010 12:50 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

That's my boy!

Benjamin Grimm Jun 22 2010 03:26 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Top talent the alligator!

themetfairy Jul 11 2010 01:14 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

The kid is alright in St. Lucie

MFS62 Jul 11 2010 10:19 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

themetfairy wrote: The kid is alright in St. Lucie Good for your kid. That linked article is a keeper. Especially where it calls Ollie Perez a right-hander. Is he working on something during his rehab we don't know about? Later

themetfairy Sep 01 2010 01:30 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai will stick around stateside for a while and play in the AFL this fall.

themetfairy Oct 19 2010 05:24 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Amazin' Avenue has an interview with Kai

MFS62 Oct 20 2010 09:56 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

He's gone 0-7 in his first few AFL games. Later

themetfairy Jan 30 2011 07:14 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai is a non-roster invitee to Major League camp this year.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 24 2011 07:04 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

The latest on "Top Talent": MLB.com wrote: German talent Gronauer finding way with Mets Initially overwhelmed, catcher transforming into legitimate prospect By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Solingen Alligators play their home games on a modest diamond in western Germany, soccer country, directly adjacent to -- of course -- a soccer field. Most of Kai Gronauer's childhood friends preferred that sport; Gronauer himself limited his athletic pursuits to soccer and tennis until the age of 10. But one friend in particular suggested he try baseball, and the young man took to it. Later, Gronauer became an Alligator, overwhelming the local competition but never realizing his potential. He knew he was good for an amateur player, and he knew he was good when he joined the German national team as a teenager. He just didn't know what any of that meant. "It would be similar to being a cricket player from the United States," said fellow catcher Mike Nickeas. "It would be difficult to kind of benchmark yourself compared to other athletes." It was not until a two-week international tournament in Barcelona that Gronauer caught the eye of Major League scouts and realized he was a good baseball player, period. Contract offers began coming in from big league teams, including a two-year deal from the Mets that lured him to rookie ball in Port St. Lucie. Then, at some point shortly after arriving, Gronauer looked around and realized, "Oh God, it's different here." "It's a lot harder," he said, reflecting back on his early days in the States. "It's tougher. I didn't know if I could do this. But then, at the same time, I thought, 'Well, I'm having fun here doing my job. I would not like to be in an office in Germany right now doing paperwork.'" His office instead is an oversized catcher's locker at Digital Domain Park, five stalls down from Nickeas (who played for Great Britain in the Barcelona tournament) and four down from starting backstop Josh Thole. Unlike those two, Gronauer will not break camp with the Mets; he'll probably be among the first players cut for the second consecutive spring. But there's little shame in that. In fewer than three years, the 24-year-old has transformed himself from an international question mark to a legitimate catching prospect in big league camp. "It's baseball heaven. It's unbelievable," Gronauer said. "I have no idea how to put it in words, as happy as I am." It wasn't always that way. In his first season stateside, Gronauer broke his thumb and missed four months, appearing in only 16 games. He was lonely in Florida, not accustomed to a culture saturated by smartphones and hamburgers. "You miss your family," Gronauer said. "You miss the food and everything." Struggling again the following season in Class A ball, Gronauer returned to the South Atlantic League last spring and improved his numbers across the board. That earned him a promotion to Class A Advanced St. Lucie, where Gronauer batted .324 with two home runs in 139 at-bats. Now, the trepidation is gone, the culture shock has faded and a quick glance at Gronauer offers little hint at the man's German upbringing. His accent is noticeable only when he is searching for a particular word -- one of Gronauer's favorite foods, for example, is a type of stew he cannot translate into English. Catching Venezuelan teammate Francisco Rodriguez's bullpen session on Wednesday, Gronauer sounded like any other backstop in camp, yelling out encouragement each time Rodriguez popped his glove with a particularly well-placed fastball. His demeanor reveals nothing of his heritage. Gronauer may miss cabbage stew, but he never shows it. "That was the surprising thing," Nickeas said. "I think he's assimilated himself very well. He handles himself properly, like he's been an American." If Gronauer eventually advances to the big leagues, he will become one of about three-dozen Major Leaguers born in Germany or West Germany, a list almost completely devoid of players who were also raised in Europe. Most, like pitcher Edwin Jackson of the White Sox, were born on military bases and raised in the United States. Gronauer could become a notable exception. His ultimate hope is that success here will breed interest back home, where even Gronauer's family does not entirely understand the nuances of the game. Among European nations, Germany lags well behind Italy and the Netherlands -- which draws its talent largely from Caribbean islands Aruba and Curacao -- in terms of baseball pedigree. Gronauer aims to change that. "I want to be an ambassador for baseball, especially in Germany," Gronauer said. "It's a very interesting sport. I think German people could be interested in it."

themetfairy Mar 11 2011 07:26 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai had a 3-run homer in yesterday's spring training game. Not too shabby! As a reward, he was cut from major league camp....

Ceetar Mar 20 2011 02:16 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Kai was last seen sporting his green st. Patricks Day hat in Vine and Barley (great place btw) last night around 8:30. Him, Justin Turner, and Scott Hairston were in there for a half hour or so and then left. My wife asked him where he got the hat (she wants one) and he, somewhat sheepishly, said "actually, I play there." or something to that effect.

Ceetar Aug 03 2011 02:11 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Not having a great season, and missed a good chunk with an injury to his left hamstring. He's hitting .228 for Binghamton, his first promotion above A ball.

Ceetar Dec 14 2011 12:31 PM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

btw, apparently Verabschiedung is German for adoption.

themetfairy Jun 15 2012 07:31 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

I haven't been an attentive parent lately, but Kai had a great game against Trenton on Saturday. And for the first time, I had the opportunity to take some pictures of the kid in action -

themetfairy Jul 28 2014 07:21 AM Re: Adopted - Kai Gronauer

Believe it or not, Kai is still hanging around Binghamton. But his one hit yesterday only brought his batting average up to a less-than-whopping .167. It doesn't seem likely that Kai is going to get a major league call-up any time soon.