(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
  Roster Netherlands Team announced for World Baseball Classic
Nederlands
  NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) / NEW YORK, New York (USA) -
On Thursday-evening (February 9), from 6 PM local time (New York) on (midnight Dutch time), Major League Baseball announced the official rosters of the twenty participating countries in the upcoming fifth edition of the World Baseball Classic.
All teams have 30 players on their rosters for the event that opens on Wednesday, March 8.
The Netherlands (also called Team Kingdom of the Netherlands) opens the tournament in Pool A and will play its games in the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung (Taiwan).
There, the Orange Team will play in the first game of the Classic on Wednesday, March 8 against Cuba.
In following games, the team of Manager Hensley Meulens will meet Panama, Chinese Taipei and Italy.
Playing in Pool B (March 9-13) in Tokyo (Japan) are Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Japan and South Korea.
Playing in Pool C (March 11-15) in Phoenix, Arizona (USA) are Canada, Colombia, Great Britain, Mexico and the USA.
Playing in Pool D (March 11-15) in Miami, Florida (USA) are the Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
The two best teams of each Pool will advance to the Second Round (Quarter Finals).
The teams from Pool A and B will play their Quarter Finals in Tokyo, the teams from Pool C and D will do so in Miami.
Thereafter, the Semi-Finals and Final will be played in Miami.
The roster of the Netherlands Team has a mix of several (former) Major League-players, Minor League-players, players who play (or have played) in Central American professional leagues and some who play in the Dutch big league.
Eight players on the roster will make their debut in the Netherlands Team, including five pitchers.
They are RHP Jaydenn Estanista, LHP Dylan Farley, RHP Antwone Kelly, RHP Eric Mendez Matos, RHP >Derek West, 1B Zander Wiel, OF Josh Palacios and UT Richie Palacios.
Amongst the 30 players are two current regular Major League-players: SS Xander Bogaerts (San Diego Padres) and 2B Jonathan Schoop (Detroit Tigers).
Bogaerts and Schoop both play in the Major League since 2013.
After having played in ten seasons for Boston Red Sox, Bogaerts signed with San Diego in the off-season.
Schoop plays for Detroit Tigers since 2020.
Three other players also played in the Major League for several seasons, including last year: SS Didi Gregorius (Philadelphia Phillies), OF Jurickson Profar and SS Andrelton Simmons (Minnesota Twins).
Gregorius and Simmons were released in August, Profar has been a Free Agent since the end of the season.
All three are without a Major League-club at the moment.
Gregorius, Profar and Simmons all played in the Major League in 2012-2022.
Debuting Richie Palacios last season made his debut in the Major League.
The outfielder played in 54 games for Cleveland Guardians, hitting .232 with 26 basehits, including six doubles.
He scored seven runs and batted in ten.
Palacios was added to the Cleveland-roster late April, he then returned to Triple-A early May.
Thereafter, the outfielder was recalled three more times during the season.
He currently is on the 40-man roster for Cleveland Guardians.
His brother Josh Palacios also played in the Major League last season.
The outfielder, who also makes his debut, then played in 29 games for Washington Nationals (.213, two RBI's).
In the 2021 season, Palacios played in 13 Major League-games for Toronto Blue Jays.
In December, his contract was purchased by Pittsburgh Pirates, who assigned him to its Triple-A team.
...Xander Bogaerts will play in his 3rd World Baseball Classic...
...He earlier participated in 2013 and 2017 (photo)...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Catcher Chadwick Tromp last year played in one Major League-game for Atlanta Braves.
He earlier played in the Majors for San Francisco Giants in 2020 (24 games) and 2021 (nine games).
Besides the above mentioned players, three other players also have played in the Major League in the past:
OF Wladimir Balentien (Seattle Mariners 2007-2009, Cincinnati Reds 2009), OF Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals 2006-2013, Philadelphia Phillies 2013, Cincinnati Reds 2013, Los Angeles Dodgers 2014) and RHP Shairon Martis (Washington Nationals 2008-2009, Minnesota Twins 2013).
Balentien also played in Japan in 2011-2021, Bernadina played in South Korea in 2017-2018 and in Taiwan in 2019 and Martis played in Taiwan in 2014.
Utility Player Ray-Patrick Didder and 1B Zander Wiel have played in Spring Training-games in the past.
Six players played in the professional Winter Leagues in the past months the Dominican Republic (3), Nicaragua (2) and Puerto Rico (1).
OF Wladimir Balentien (Gigantes del Cibao, 13 games, 2 homeruns, 5 RBI's, .163), RHP Wendell Floranus (Gigantes del Cibao, 7 games, 5 strikeouts, 0-0) and RHP Franklin Van Gurp (Estrellas Orientales, 4 games, 3 strikeouts, 0-0) all in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana (Dominican Republic), OF Roger Bernadina (Leones del Léon, 42 games, 6 homeruns, 36 RBI's, .344) and RHP Juancarlos Sulbaran (Indios del Bóer, 10 games, 31 strikeouts, 2-4) both in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional (Nicaragua) and SS Didi Gregorius (Cangrejeros de Santurce, 16 games, 0 homeruns, 1 RBI, .242) in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico).
Infielder Juremi Profar (Bravos de Léon) played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol until May last year when he was released.
Eight players played in the Minor Leagues last season:
UT Ray-Patrick Didder (Double-A, Triple-A, Miami Marlins-organization), RHP Jaydenn Estanista (Rookie League, Philadelphia Phillies-organization), RHP Antwone Kelly (Rookie League, Pittsburgh Pirates-organization), RHP Eric Mendez Matos (Single-A, Arizona Diamondbacks-organization), OF Josh Palacios (Triple-A, Pittburgh Pirates-organization, he began 2022 season in Triple-A with Toronto Blue Jays), UT Richie Palacios (Triple-A, Cleveland Guardians-organization), C Chadwick Tromp (Triple-A, Atlanta Braves-organization) and RHP Derek West (Single-A, Double-A, Houston Astros-organization).
Former Minor League 1B Zander Wiel played in an Independent League (High Point Rockers).
From the above mentioned players, Ray-Patrick Didder and Franklin Van Gurp are currently without a club.
RHP Mike Bolsenbroek is another player on the roster who plays abroad.
He is one of the pitchers of Heidenheim Heideköpfe in the 1.Bundesliga, the highest German league, where he now plays for several seasons.
...Lars Huijer pitching for the Netherlands during...
...the 2022 Baseball Week Haarlem...
...Last season, Huijer was the Best Pitcher of the...
...Dutch big league and the MVP during the Holland...
...Series, playing for HCAW...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Ten players on the Orange-roster are currently on rosters of Dutch big league-teams for the upcoming 2023 season.
They are OF Roger Bernadina, RHP Tom de Blok, LHP Ryan Huntington, RHP Kevin Kelly, RHP Shairon Martis, C Dashenko Ricardo (all Curaçao Neptunus), LHP Dylan Farley, C Sicnarf Loopstok, IF Sharlon Schoop (all Amsterdam Pirates) and RHP Lars Huijer (HCAW).
Amongst the six Neptunus-players are three newcomers.
De Blok and Martis last year played for Amsterdam Pirates, Huntington for Twins Oosterhout.
De Blok then didn't play the entire season due to an injury.
From the three Pirates-players, Farley is a newcomer, he played for Hoofddorp Pioniers in 2022.
Farley is currently studying and playing at Mineral Area College in Missouri.
Two other players on the roster last season also played in the Dutch big league: RHP Juancarlos Sulbaran (Neptunus) and RHP Franklin Van Gurp (Amsterdam Pirates).
Four players on the Orange-roster were born in the USA.
They are RHP Derek West, IF Josh Palacios, UT Richie Palacios and 1B Zander Wiel.
Thirteen players on the roster were born on Curaçao, seven on Aruba, one on St. Maarten and five in the Netherlands.
This last group includes Did Gregorius, who was born in Amsterdam when he father Didi Gregorius, Sr. played there in the big league for Amsterdam Pirates.
But Didi Jr. later grew up on Curaçao.
Besides the 30 players on the active roster, there are also eight pitchers named for the so-called Designated Pitching Pool (DPP).
When a team reaches the next round, two pitchers on the roster can be replaced by pitchers from this group.
Amongst the eight pitchers in the DPP is Major Leaguer Kenley Jansen, who in the off-season signed with Boston Red Sox.
Also on the list are two former Major Leaguers: RHP Jair Jurrjens (Detroit Tigers 2007, Atlanta Braves 2008-2012, Baltimore Orioles 2013, Colorado Rockies 2014) and RHP Pedro Strop (Texas Rangers 2009-2011, Baltimore Orioles 2011-2013, Chicago Cubs 2013-2019, Cincinnati Reds 2020 and again Chicago Cubs 2021).
Jurrjens played in the professional league in Taiwan in 2016.
Strop recently played in the professional Winter League in the Dominican Republic.
Three of the pitchers who are in the DPP play in the Dutch big league: RHP Dennis Burgersdijk (HCAW), RHP Aaron de Groot (Neptunus) and RHP Scott Prins (Amsterdam Pirates).
The remaining two pitchers in this group play in the Minor League: RHP Jiorgeny Casimiri (Rookie League, Single-A Toronto Blue Jays) and RHP Arij Fransen (Rookie League, Single-A Cincinnati Reds).
Initially, Strop was to be part of the team, but due to private reasons, he is unable to play during the First Round.
...Sharlon Schoop played in his 100th...
...international game for the Netherlands...
...during the 2022 Baseball Week Haarlem...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Fifteen players on the Orange-roster participated this past week in the 65th edition of the Serie del Caribe (Caribbean Baseball Series) in Venezuela.
They are Balentien, Bernadina, Didder, Floranus, Huntington, Kevin Kelly, Loopstok, Martis, Juremi Profar, Ricardo, Jonathan Schoop, Sharlon Schoop, Simmons, Sulbaran and Van Gurp.
There, they played for WildCats KJ74, which represented Curaçao in the international tournament.
WildCats finished in seventh place.
Sixteen players on the roster have participated earlier in a World Baseball Classic.
Shairon Martis will participate in his fourth Classic, he earlier was a member of the team in 2006, 2013 and 2017.
Manager Hensley Meulens and 3B Coach Ben Thijssen have been a member of the Orange coaching-staff in all editons of the Classic.
Meulens was the Hitting Coach in 2006 and 2009, then the Manager in 2013 and 2017.
Thijssen was the 3B Coach in 2006, 2013 and 2017 and the so-called Auxiliary Coach in 2009.
Former Major Leaguer and Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven will be the Pitching Coach in his fourth Classic since 2009.
Three other members of the coaching-staff played for the Netherlands Team in two Classics.
Bench Coach Andruw Jones in 2006 and 2013, Assistant Hitting Coach Sharnol Adriana in 2006 and 2009 and 1B Coach Eugene Kingsale played in 2006 and 2009.
There is also another remarkable combination.
In 2006, during the first Classic, Brian Farley was the Bench Coach of the Netherlands Team.
On the current roster, his son Dylan Farley is one of the Orange-pitchers.
The most experienced international player on the Orange-roster is infielder Sharlon Schoop.
He leads the team by having played in 100 official international games for the Netherlands Team.
His 100th game was the Final of last years Baseball Week Haarlem, the international tournament in Haarlem (Netherlands).
Veteran international player Dwayne Kemp also will be with the team during the World Baseball Classic.
However, not as a player.
During the event, Kemp will be the Bullpen Catcher, but also will be a reserve player.
The Netherlands Team-roster looks as follows:
Pitchers (14):
RHP Tom de Blok, LHP Ryan Huntington, RHP Kevin Kelly, RHP Shairon Martis (all Curaçao Neptunus), RHP Mike Bolsenbroek(Heidenheim Heideköpfe, Germany), RHP Jaydenn Estanista (Philadelphia Phillies-organization, USA), LHP Dylan Farley (Amsterdam Pirates), RHP Wendell Floranus (Gigantes del Cibao, Dominican Republic), RHP Lars Huijer (HCAW), RHP Antwone Kelly (Pittsburgh Pirates-organization, USA), RHP Eric Mendez Matos (Arizona Diamondbacks-organization, USA), RHP Juancarlos Sulbaran (Indios del Bóer, Nicaragua), RHP Franklin Van Gurp (no club) and RHP Derek West (Houston Astros-organization, USA).
Catchers (3):
Sicnarf Loopstok (Amsterdam Pirates), Dashenko Ricardo (Curaçao Neptunus) and Chadwick Tromp (Atlanta Braves-organization, USA).
...In the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March,...
...Manager Hensley Meulens will be a member of the Orange...
...coaching-staff for the fifth time; Bert Blyleven will be...
...the Pitching Coach for the fourth time...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Infielders (7):
Xander Bogaerts (San Diego Padres, Major League, USA), Didi Gregorius (Cangrejeros de Santurce, Puerto Rico), Juremi Profar (Bravos de Léon, Mexico), Jonathan Schoop (Detroit Tigers, Major League, USA), Sharlon Schoop (Amsterdam Pirates), Andrelton Simmons (Free Agent) and Zander Wiel (High Point Rockers, Indep. League, USA).
Outfielders (4):
Wladimir Balentien (Gigantes del Cibao, Dominican Republic), Roger Bernadina (Curaçao Neptunus), Josh Palacios (Pittsburgh Pirates-organization, USA) and Jurickson Profar (Free Agent).
Utility Players (2):
Ray-Patrick Didder (Free Agent) and Richie Palacios (Cleveland Guardians-organization, USA).
Designated Pitching Pool (8):
RHP Dennis Burgersdijk (HCAW), RHP Jiorgeny Casimiri (Toronto Blue Jays-organization, USA), RHP Arij Fransen (Cincinnati Reds-organization, USA), RHP Aaron de Groot (Curaçao Neptunus), RHP Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox, Major League, USA), RHP Jair Jurrjens (Tigres de Aragua, Venezuela), RHP Scott Prins (Amsterdam Pirates) and RHP Pedro Strop (Leones del Escogido, Dominican Republic).
Coaching-Staff:
Hensley Meulens (Manager), Andruw Jones (Bench Coach), Eugene Kingsale (1B Coach), Ben Thijssen (3B Coach), Bert Blyleven (Pitching Coach), Mike Harkey (Bullpen Coach), Tjerk Smeets (Hitting Coach), Sharnol Adriana (Assistant Hitting Coach), Evert-Jan 't Hoen (Quality Control Coach) and Wim Martinus (Assistant Coach/Batting Practice Pitcher).
(February 10)
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