(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Roster Netherlands Baseball Team announced for Samurai Series
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
The roster of the Netherlands Kingdom Baseball Team for the upcoming Samurai Series in Japan was announced on Tuesday (February 25) by the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB).
Manager Evert-Jan 't Hoen selected 28 players for the 2-game series against Samurai Japan, the national professional team of Japan, compiled of players from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
The Netherlands and Japan will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, March 5 and 6 in the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka.
Late November, the KNBSB announced that the Netherlands was invited for the 2-game series at the home of Orix Buffaloes in Osaka.
The Kyocera Dome is also used by Hanshin Tigers as its secondary home.
It will be the second time that the Netherlands will play in a Samurai Series.
In 2016, the Orange-team was also invited for a 2-game series.
Back then, the games were very attractive and Japan won with a small difference, 9-8 and 12-10.
Both games, then played in Tokyo, were decided in the tenth inning.
There are no debuting players on the 28-man roster for Japan.
The majority of them participated in The Kingdom Series in Oranjestad (Aruba) and the Premier12 in Zapopan and Tepic (Mexico) in October/November last year.
During The Kingdom Series, the Netherlands Team won all three games played against Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
In Mexico, the Orange-squad won two of the five games during the First Round of the Premier12 and was eliminated for the Super Round.
Nineteen players on the roster (eight of the thirteen pitchers, two of the three catchers, five of the seven infielders, two of the three outfielders and both utility players) participated in both events.
RHP De Blok and RHP Kelly only participated in the Premier12, RHP Postelmans only were with the team during the Kingdom Series.
Seven players, who were with the team on Aruba and in Mexico, are not on the current roster for Japan, being RHP Jaydenn Estanista, LHP Dylan Farley, RHP Kaj Timmermans, C Hendrik Clementina, IF Jonathan Schoop, IF Sharlon Schoop and OF Denzel Richardson.
RHP Floranus, RHP De Groot, C Martie, IF Martina, IF Newton and OF Tromp did not play in both tournaments.
However, three of them were with the Orange-squad earlier in in 2024, as De Groot, Martina and Tromp were on the roster for the Baseball Week Haarlem in Haarlem (Netherlands).
Floranus, Martie and Newton were with the team in 2023.
Floranus then participated in the World Baseball Classic in Taichung (Taiwan), the Rotterdam Baseball Weekend in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the European Championship in Brno and Blansko (Czechia).
Newton played for the team in Rotterdam and Czechia.
Martie was with the team during a training-camp in Scottsdale (USA) preceeding the Classic and then played in one exhibition game.
When inserted, the catcher will play in his first international game in Japan.
Two members of the coaching-staff who were with the team during The Kingdom Series and the Premier12 will not be in Japan, being Pitching Coach Diegomar Markwell and Hitting Coach Bart Hanegraaff.
Nick Stuifbergen, who was then was the Bullpen Coach, now will be the Pitching Coach.
Former Major Leaguer Jair Jurrjens was added to the staff and will be the Orange Bullpen Coach during the Samurai Series.
There will be no Hitting Coach in Japan.
The Orange-roster looks as follows:
Pitchers (13):
Tom de Blok, Aaron de Groot, Ryan Huntington, Shairon Martis, Koen Postelmans, Juan Carlos Sulbaran (all Curaçao Neptunus), Wendell Floranus (Caliente de Durango, Mexico), Lars Huijer (HCAW), Kevin Kelly (Dorados de Chihuahua, Mexico), Eric Mendez Matos (Free Agent), Scott Prins (Ottawa Titans, Canada), Franklin Van Gurp (Free Agent) and Pim Vijfvinkel (Amsterdam Pirates).
Catchers (3):
Donovan Antonia (Free Agent), Jair van Borkulo (HCAW) and Yurdion Martie (RCH-Pinguïns).
Infielders (7):
Dayson Croes (Winnipeg Goldeyes, Canada), Didi Gregorius (Algodoneros de Unión Laguna, Mexico), Eugene Helder, Junior Martina (both UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna, Italy), Stijn van der Meer (Curaçao Neptunus), Shervyen Newton and Juremi Profar (both Free Agent).
Outfielders (3):
Ray-Patrick Didder (Free Agent), Rushenten Tomsjansen (Grosseto Gryphons, Italy) and Jiandido Tromp (San Marino, San Marino).
Utility Players (2):
Dwayne Kemp (Curaçao Neptunus) and Delano Selassa (HCAW).
Coaching Staff:
Evert-Jan 't Hoen (Manager), Sidney de Jong (Bench Coach), Randolph Oduber (1B Coach), Ben Thijssen (3B Coach), Nick Stuifbergen (Pitching Coach), Jair Jurrjens (Bullpen Coach), Michael Duursma (Assistant Coach).
Supporting Staff:
Sanne Swaans (Physical Therapist), Niels van Weert (Team Manager) and Seb Visser (Media Officer).
Also accompanying the Orange-team to Japan are Berry van Driel (Commercial Affairs KNBSB), Stefaan Eskes (Managing Director KNBSB), Peter Kwakernaak (Technical Director KNBSB) and Louie-Jay Sienders (Social Media KNBSB).
(February 25)
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