Didi Gregorius, Jonathan Schoop headline Netherlands Premier12 roster
Manager Evert-Jan ’t Hoen has presented his roster for the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS, the biggest global baseball tournament of the year. Former Major League Baseball stars Didi Gregorius and Jonathan Schoop have been selected for the tournament and are the biggest eye-catchers on the Dutch roster.
Experience on this roster is also provided by players such as Shairon Martis, Dwayne Kemp and Sharlon Schoop, who were on the team for the first two editions of the Premier12 in 2015 and 2019. Seven other players on the roster were part of the Netherlands team in 2019 when the Dutch also played in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Besides the experienced players ’t Hoen also added five players that will make their official debut for the Orange squad. Four of them, pitchers Dylan Farley and Pim Vijfvinkel, outfielder Rushenten Tomsjansen and utility player Donovan Antonia, left strong impressions during the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup in China earlier this year.
The fifth debutant is the 25-year-old Aruban infielder Dayson Croes, who plays for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the independent American Association.
Full Roster
PITCHERS: Tom de Blok; Jaydenn Estanista; Dylan Farley; Franklin van Gurp; Kufu Hayate; Lars Huijer; Ryan Huntington; Kevin Kelly; Shairon Martis; Eric Mendez; Scott Prins; Juan Carlos Sulbaran; Kaj Timmermans; Pim Vijfvinkel.
CATCHERS: Hendrik Clementina; Jair van Borkulo; Donovan Antonia.
INFIELDERS: Dayson Croes; Didi Gregorius; Eugene Helder; Juremi Profar; Jonathan Schoop; Sharlon Schoop.
OUTFIELDERS: Ray-Patrick Didder; Denzel Richardson; Delano Selassa; Rushenten Tomsjansen.
UTILITY: Dwayne Kemp; Stijn van der Meer.
Kingdom Series
Netherlands will prepare for the Premier12 in Aruba during the Kingdom Series before traveling to Guadalajara. In Oranjestad, the Orange will play exhibition games against Aruba (November 1), Curaçao (November 2) and Bonaire (November 3). On November 4th the winner of the Kingdom Series will be decided in a final in the Nadi Croes/Crismo Angela stadium.
Netherlands will face Panama, Team USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela in Group A of the Premier12. The numbers one and two of pool play will qualify for the Super Round, that will be played in the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
