Marek Chlup of the Czech Republic bats in the first inning of a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Czech Republic and China at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
Czech outfielder Marek Chlup re-signed with the Lake Country DockHounds for the 2024 American Association season, the league announced on X on January 2.
Chlup, 24, was born in Turnov, Czechia, and played his first professional season with the Lake Country DockHounds after not being selected in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2023 with Lake Country, Chlup played in 34 games and batted .325 in 140 plate appearances with 41 hits, seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 25 RBI, six stolen bases, 13 walks, and 43 strikeouts.
Chlup played his senior season in 2023 at North Greenville University’s NCAA Division II program prior to joining Lake Country. He played in 51 games batting .344 with 218 plate appearances smacking 63 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 52 RBI, swiping 20 bases, 29 walks, 30 strikeouts, and a 1.118 OPS.
Chlup also played for the Czech Republic at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He played center field in all four games and had the second-highest batting average on the team at .333 behind former MLB second baseman Eric Soggard, who hit .438 during the tournament. He recorded four hits in 12 at-bats with one double, three RBI, two walks, and seven strikeouts.
The Czech Republic qualified for the 2023 WBC at the 2022 qualifiers in Regensburg, Germany, at Armin-Wolf-Arena by beating Spain in the final game 3-1. Chlup played all four games of the qualifier in center field and batted .353 in 17 at-bats, scoring three runs, recording six hits, two home runs, four RBI, and five strikeouts.
During the 2022 season, Chlup played in the MLB Draft League for the West Virginia Black Bears and appeared in 16 games, batting .222 over 63 plate appearances with 12 hits, one double, one triple, six RBI, seven stolen bases, eight walks, and 16 strikeouts.
In his junior season at North Greenville University, Chlup was second in the program with his batting average at .390 and second in RBI with 75. He played in 62 games with 281 plate appearances recording 89 hits, 20 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBI, 30 RBI, 42 walks, 43 strikeouts and a 1.150 OPS.
The Lake Country DockHounds will open the 2024 season against the Sioux Falls Canaries at home on May 10 at Wisconsin Brewing Company Park in Oconomowoc, Wisc.