Sioux City Rep. J.D. Scholten making a return to baseball

SIOUX CITY — Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, is getting back on the mound.

The first-term legislator, and former professional pitcher, announced early Thursday he'd signed a contract to play professional baseball in the Netherlands with the Oosterhout Twins, a team in the "Honkbal Hoofdklasse," an eight-team Dutch league with a schedule running from April through September.

Scholten said the team, which plays in the southern town of Oosterhout, needed an additional pitcher because of injuries and an issue with a Japanese player's visa.

"It’s an honor to be playing baseball in the Netherlands, especially knowing my ancestors came from here. At my age (43), I am grateful to not only be playing the game but also to be able to compete at such a high level," Scholten said. "I’m pitching the best I have ever been in my life, along with being the most complete pitcher I have ever been. I am extremely grateful to the Oosterhout Twins for giving me this opportunity."

With respect to his job as a legislator, Scholten said he doesn't anticipate any disruptions.

"I’ve been on Zoom calls, helped a constituent via email and have a phone plan that allows me to be like I am in Sioux City," he said.

Scholten, who was elected in the 2022 cycle, is the lone Democratic legislator from Northwest Iowa serving in the statehouse in Des Moines. He ran for re-election unopposed in 2022 and, as of now, there isn't a Republican candidate running for his seat. With more than 15 months until Election Day 2024, Scholten said he's "more likely to run for re-election than not, at this point."