(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen & Marco Stoovelaar)
 Hensley Meulens no longer Manager of Netherlands Baseball Team
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
Hensley Meulens no longer is the Manager of the Netherlands National Baseball Team.
Since 2013, the former Major Leaguer led the Orange Team during (professional) tournaments as the World Baseball Classic and Premier12.
The Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) made the announcement on Saturday (December 9).
...Hensley Meulens addresses the media...
...during the 2023 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In a press release, the KNBSB announced the following:
,,Hensley Meulens has stepped down as Manager of Team Kingdom of the Netherlands.
This change marks the end of an era of exceptional performance and progress under his leadership and heralds a new phase for the team.
During his time as manager, Hensley Meulens has contributed significantly to the success and growth of baseball within the Kingdom.
His expertise, passion and leadership have taken Team Kingdom of the Netherlands to great heights, both at global tournaments and in the development of young players from the Kingdom.
The absolute highlights under his leadership were reaching the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic in both 2013 and 2017."
In the same press release, Peter Kwakernaak, Technical Director of the KNBSB, adds:
,,We are grateful to Hensley for his efforts and dedication over a very long period of time.
His ability to create a strong team spirit and take our players to the next level has provided our sport with unforgettable moments and successes.
The KNBSB remains committed to the growth and success of baseball in the Kingdom.
Our goal remains unchanged: to take baseball to the next level''.
Hensley Meulens last led the Netherlands Team as Manager during last years World Baseball Classic.
During that event in March, the team was unexpectedly eliminated in the First Round.
That not only was a big surprise, but an even bigger disappointment, as the Netherlands had advanced to the Semi-Final in the previous two editions in 2013 and 2017.
Before becoming Manager in 2013, Meulens had been a member of the Orange coaching-staff since 2003, made many contributions to the development of players and played a big role in the team-achievements since then.
Meulens was Bench Coach of Manager Robert Eenhoorn in 2003-2006 during the Olympic Games (2004), Olympic Qualifying Tournament (2003), World Baseball Classic (2006), World Championship (2003), European Championship (2003), World Port Tournament (2003) and Haarlem Baseball Week (2004).
During the Classic in 2009, Meulens was the Hitting Coach in the staff of Rod Delmonico, who had no Bench Coach.
His coaching-career with the Netherlands Team followed a period of three years as player in the Orange-squad.
In 2000-2002, he participated with the team in the Olympic Games (2000), World Championship (2001), Haarlem Baseball Week (2002) and Intercontinental Cup (2002), playing in 35 games.
His most memorable game came during the Olympics in Sydney (Australia) when he belted a double against Cuba, which led to a 4-2 victory and Cuba's first-ever Olympic loss.
...Gloomy faces amongst the coaches of the Netherlands...
...Team during the game vs. Italy during the 2023...
...World Baseball Classic in Taichung (Taiwan)...
...From left: Wim Martinus (Assistant Coach/BP Pitcher),...
...Hensley Meulens (Manager), Andruw Jones (Bench Coach),...
...Sharnol Adriana (Assistant Hitting Coach) and...
...Evert-Jan 't Hoen (Quality Control Coach)...
...Standing at right is Trainer Quintijn van der Roest...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Since 2013, there have been two Managers of the Netherlands National Team.
In October 2012, Hensley Meulens was named Manager of the team for the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March 2013.
Meulens would lead the Orange-squad through 2023 in all major tournaments that were mostly scheduled in off-season months (October-April) with participation of mostly professional players.
Through March of last year, that included seven tournaments, three World Baseball Classics (2013, 2017, 2023), two Premier12-tournaments (2015, 2019), the Samurai Games (2016) and the Baseball Final Olympic Qualifier (2021).
In those events, plus some exhibition-games, Meulens led the team in 40 official international games.
In other international tournaments since 2013, the team was led by the 'regular' Manager.
These tournaments included the European Championships, Haarlem Baseball Weeks and World Port Tournaments.
Through 2012, all tournaments were led by the same Manager.
From 2013 on, the 'regular' Manager would serve as Bench Coach (or in another position) in the staff of Hensley Meulens during the before-mentioned big off-season (professional) tournaments.
When Meulens was named Manager of the Netherlands for the 2013 World Baseball Classic, 'regular' Manager Brian Farley was to be the Bench Coach.
In 2011, Farley had led the team to the title at the World Championship in Panama.
However, during preparations for the tournament in Taiwan, Farley stepped down and returned home.
(Former Manager) Robert Eenhoorn, who was with the team as then-Technical Director, took over the position.
In 2015, during Meulens' next tournament, which was the Premier12, then 'regular' Manager Steve Janssen was his Bench Coach.
That construction changed in 2016 during the Samurai Games.
Bench Coach then was former Major Leaguer (and former Netherlands Team-player) Andruw Jones.
This time, Janssen was the Pitching Coach, but also acted as Assistant Manager.
During the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Jones again was the Bench Coach.
Janssen now was the Bullpen Coach, as former Major Leaguer Bert Blyleven returned as Pitching Coach, which he also had been during the Classics in 2009 and 2013.
In 2019 and 2021, Evert-Jan 't Hoen, Janssen's successor as 'regular' Manager, was the Bench Coach for Meulens during the Premier12 and Olympic Qualifier.
Last year, during the Classic, Andruw Jones returned as Bench Coach.
This time, 't Hoen was the Quality Control Coach.
...Hensley Meulens addresses the media in 2015...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Hensley Meulens played in the Major League in 1989-1993 and again in 1997-1998.
On August 23, 1989, Meulens became the first player from Curaçao to make his debut in the Major League when, at age 22, he was the third baseman of New York Yankees.
From 1989 through 1993, Meulens, who later played in the outfield mostly, played in 159 games for the Yankees.
Meulens then went on to play in the Japanese Major League (Nippon Professional Baseball) for Chiba Lotte Marines (1994) and Yakult Swallows (1995-1996), winning the Japan Series in 1995.
Thereafter, Meulens returned to the USA and played in 23 more Major League-games in 1997-1998 for Montreal Expos and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Meulens then continued playing professionally in an Independent League and in 2000, he plays for SK Wyverns in the highest professional league in South Korea.
Next, Meulens plays in Mexico and retires in 2002, due to an injury.
Being a righthanded hitter, Meulens frequently hit homeruns lefthanded while playing softball in his youth, which earned him the nickname 'Bam Bam'.
Since 2010, Hensley Meulens also has been a Major League-coach.
In 2010-2019, he is a member of the coaching-staff of Manager Bruce Bochy for the Major League-team of San Francisco Giants.
In the first eight seasons, Meulens is Hitting Coach, in the final two he is Bochy's Bench Coach.
San Francisco won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
In 2020, Meulens is Bench Coach of New York Mets for Manager Luis Rojas.
During the 2022 season, Meulens is one of two Assistant Hitting Coaches of New York Yankees in the staff of Manager Aaron Boone.
In that season, Yankee-outfielder Aaron Judge broke the American League homerun-record by hitting 62.
In November 2022, Meulens was named Hitting Coach of Colorado Rockies.
He will return in that role this year.
(December 9)
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