(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Roster Netherlands Baseball Team announced for European Championship
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
On Thursday (September 18), the roster of the Netherlands Baseball Team was announced for the upcoming 38th European Championship, which begins on Saturday (September 20) on three locations.
Group A and B will be played in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Group C in Novara (Italy) and Group D in Borgerhout (Belgium).
The Final Round also will be played in Rotterdam.
Playing in Group A are Czechia, Germany, Spain and Sweden, in Group B France, Great Britain, Israel and Netherlands, in Group C Greece, Italy, Lithuania and Switzerland and in Group D Austria, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary.
Eight of the 24 players on the roster play in the Dutch big league, the others play abroad, most of them in professional leagues.
Three players have played in the Major League: RHP Shairon Martis, IF Didi Gregorius and IF Jonathan Schoop.
Currently, Gregorius and Schoop play in Mexico, as do RHP Kevin Kelly and C Hendrik Clementina.
Six players play in the Italian Serie A.
The team has two rookies, righthanded pitchers Justin Morales Sequera and Michael Vilchez.
Morales. who comes from Aruba, played for Tallahassee State College in Florida (Junior College).
Coming college-season, he will play for Bethune-Cookman University in Florida (NCAA Division I).
Last year, Morales played for the Netherlands U23 Team in the World Cup in China (7th place) and was 0-1 in three appearances.
He also played for the Netherlands U18 Team during the World Cup (5th place) in 2022 in the USA, where he was 0-2.
Vilchez played five seasons in Minor League-teams of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the first four in Rookie League, this year in Single-A.
He was released on August 27, meaning he currently is a Free Agent.
Last Tuesday-evening, the Netherlands played an exhibition-game against reigning European champion Spain in Rotterdam.
The Netherlands lost the game with a 5-2 score, which was only the second loss ever in 42 games against Spain.
The first was two years ago in the Final Round of the European Championship in Czechia.
Back then, the Netherlands won 5-4 in ten innings against Germany to finish in third place, which was the first time ever that the Orange-squad did not finish in first or second place.
In Tuesday's game, Morales made his debut.
Outfielder Denzel Richardson also played, but he sustained an injury and is not on the roster for the European Championship.
The roster of the Netherlands Kingdom Team looks as follows:
Pitchers (11):
Tom de Blok, Ryan Huntington, Shairon Martis (all Curaçao Neptunus), Jaydenn Estanista (Philadelphia Phillies-org., USA), Wendell Floranus (Aigles de Trois-Rivières, Canada), Lars Huijer (HCAW), Kevin Kelly (Dorados de Chihuahua, Mexico), Eric Mendez Matos (San Marino Titans, San Marino), Justin Morales (Bethune-Cookman University, USA), Scott Prins (BBC Grosetto, IItaly) and Michael Vilchez (Free Agent, USA).
Catchers (2):
Hendrik Clementina (Algodoneros de Union Laguna, Mexico) and Sem Kuijper (Curaçao Neptunus).
Infielders (6):
Didi Gregorius, Jonathan Schoop (both Algodoneros de Union Laguna, Mexico), Eugene Helder, Junior Martina (both UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna, Italy), Juremi Profar (BBC Grosetto, Italy) and Sharlon Schoop (Santa Maria Pirates, Curaçao).
Outfielders (4):
Ray-Patrick Didder (Winnipeg Goldeyes, Canada), Dwayne Kemp (Curaçao Neptunus), Jiandido Tromp (BBC Grosetto, Italy) and Delano Selassa (HCAW).
Utility Player (1)::
Stijn van der Meer (Curaçao Neptunus).
Coaching-Staff:
Evert-Jan 't Hoen (Manager), Sidney de Jong (Bench Coach), Randolph Oduber (1B Coach), Ben Thijssen (3B Coach), Bart Hanegraaf (Hitting Coach), Nick Stuifbergen (Pitching Coach), Jair Jurrjens (Bullpen Coach) and Michael Duursma (Coach).
Supporting Staff:
Martijn Verhoeven (Quality Control Coach), Rian de Boer (Strenghth & Conditioning Coach), Quintijn van der Roest (Physical Therapist), Niels van Weert (Team Manager), Seb Visser (Media Officer), Jorrit Patist (Bullpen Catcher), Lorenzo Willem (Bullpen Catcher).
(September 18)
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