Euro champs Netherlands armed for WBSC Premier12

TAICHUNG, Taiwan – Ten-time MLB Gold Glove outfielder Andruw Jones and NPB single-season home run record holder Wladimeir Balentien will help world No. 5 Netherlands carry some heavy artillery into the global baseball battle, WBSC Premier12.

The Dutch National Team has also announced a pitching department that can go deep into the new flagship tournament, which runs from 8-21 November and pits the Top 12 nations against each other.

Netherlands, the highest-ranked nation on their continent, won the 2014 European championship and advanced to the semi-finals of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Manager Hensley Meulens has opted to carry two left-handed starting pitchers in Diegomar Markwell and Jim Ploeger. Veteran pitcher Robbie Cordemans will lead a pitching core that features eleven right-handers.

Switch-hitter Shawn Zarraga will head the catching crew, while 2011 Baseball World Cup MVP Curt Smith will be in the Dutch infield.

The Netherlands will face No. 4 Chinese Taipei in the opening game of Group A in Taichung, Taiwan on Monday, November 9th. In their previous meeting in the Opening Round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Chinese Taipei defeated the Netherlands, 8-3.