© Louie Jay Sienders (baseballsoftbal.nl)
Amazing debut in the Premier 12 for the Netherlands against Panama at the Estadio Panamericano in Guadalajara, Mexico. A game not suitable for the faint of heart which saw the Orange, included in Group A, overcome the Central American team 9-8 in the tenth inning with a walk-off single by Ray Patrick Didder after having been trailing 7-2 midway through the fourth inning. And tomorrow the United States awaits the formation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands led by the Dutchman Evert Jan ‘t Hoen has 5 players who played in the 2024 Italian Serie A: the pitcher Eric Mendez of San Marino, the position players Juremi Profar (Hotsand Macerata), Rushenten Tomsjansen (New Energy Grosseto ), Eugene Helder and Denzel Richardson (both UnipolSai Bologna). On the roster there are several former Major Leaguers such as pitcher Shairon Martis and infielders Didi Gregorius and Jonathan Schoop. For 4 players, the Premier 12 is the second world tournament in two months: the pitchers Dylan Farley and Pim Vijfvinkel, the catcher Jair van Borkulo and the Italian Tomsjansen have in fact already participated in the WBSC Under 23 World Cup in China in September.
The Dutch national team prepared during the Kingdom Series in Aruba by playing against the hosts and the selections from Curacao and Bonaire. The oranges won three matches in Oranjestad, 10-3, 6-2 and 12-1 respectively, then when they arrived in Mexico they beat a selection from Guadalajara 8-2. At the third edition of the Premier 12, the Netherlands (seventh in the WBSC ranking) will face Panama, in order, the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela. The situation between Mexico (second in the WBSC ranking) and Puerto Rico is very close, only 996 points difference. Between Holland and USA, only 153 points. Japan continues to dominate in first place with 5756 points.
The three ex-MLB Gregorius, Schoop and Martis contributed to the conquest of the last official world champion title, won in 2011 by the Dutch Kingdom. Also there were pitcher Juan Carlos Sulbaran, infielder Sharlon Schoop and outfielder Dwayne Kemp. There was also the then manager Brian Farley, now father of pitcher Dylan Farley, and the starting and winning pitcher (2-1) of the final against Cuba.
Possible deja vu for Shairon Martis against Panama who at the 2006 World Baseball Classic had been beaten by the Dutch with a nohit-shutout of 7 complete innings by the then 18 year old Shairon with a maximum number of 65 pitches and ten runs scored by his teammates. Martis has a career spanning almost 20 years and recently led Neptunus Rotterdam to their twentieth national Hoofdklasse title.
To follow, Penko Tomsjansen from Grosseto, born in Dordrecht, an ancient city of three large rivers, 20 km south of Rotterdam. He made his debut as a 17-year-old signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was with Grosseto in both 2023 and 2024. From Maremma he left for his first Under-23 World Cup in China. But now comes his debut in the senior national team with expert teammates like Gregorius, Schoop and Martis. Very young, but already also a globetrotter.
This is the Netherlands roster:
Lanciatori: Tom de Blok, Shairon Martis, Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Ryan Huntington (Neptunus Rotterdam), Lars Huijer e Kaj Timmermans (HCAW Bussum), Pim Vijfvinkel (Pirates Amsterdam), Scott Prins (Canada), Kevin Kelly (Nicaragua), Eric Mendez (San Marino), Franklin van Gurp (Giappone), Dylan Farley (Delta State University, USA), Jaydenn Estanista (Philadelphia Phillies).
Receiver; Hendrik Clementina (Venezuela), Jair van Borkulo (HCAW Bussum), Donovan Antonia (free agent).
Interior: Didi Gregorius (Mexico), Jonathan Schoop (Mexico), Sharlon Schoop (Sta Maria Pirates), Juremi Profar (free agent), Eugene Helder (UnipolSai Bologna), Dayson Croes (Canada).
Wingers: Delano Salassa (HCAW Bussum), Rushenten Tomsjansen (New Energy Grosseto), Denzel Richardson (UnipolSai Bologna), Ray-Patrick Didder (San Diego Padres).
Utilities: Dwayne Kemp and Stijn van der Meer (entrambi Neptunus Rotterdam).
