Since 2009, the Netherlands has been a strong competitor in the World Baseball Classic, benefiting from talent from Curacao and Aruba. The Netherlands’ team for 2026 will feature many well-known players.
Pitchers
Kenley Jansen, who once played catcher for the Netherlands, is expected to be the closer for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The pitching roster mostly lacks recent MLB experience, with Shairon Martis, a former Washington Nationals player, being one of the few exceptions.
For those following prospects, Pirates right-hander Antwone Kelly is a player to keep an eye on. He was added to the 40-man roster in November and had a strong season in High-A Greensboro, boasting a swing-and-miss rate above 30% in the South Atlantic League.
The team also includes former Minor Leaguers such as Wendell Floranus, Eric Mendez, Derek West, Lars Huijer, Arij Fransen, and 2009 Futures Games participant J.C. Sulbaran.
Catchers
Both catchers on Team Netherlands have a background with the Braves.
Hendrik Clementina played three years in the Braves’ Minor League system, reaching Triple-A, while Chadwick Tromp has previously been on the Braves’ MLB roster.
Tromp is a non-roster invite for Atlanta’s Spring Training in 2026.
Infielders
Team Netherlands will miss some familiar faces this time. Wladimir Balentien, who had a successful stint in Japan, and former MLB players Jonathan Schoop and Roger Bernadina are not joining the team.
However, there are still notable names in the infield. Xander Bogaerts had a solid performance last Classic, while Didi Gregorius played first for the Netherlands in 2023.
Ozzie Albies aims for a better season after posting a .671 OPS with the Braves in 2025.
Outfielders
Druw Jones will have the opportunity to play alongside his father, Andruw Jones, in the upcoming Classic.
Drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2022, Jones has shown strong defensive skills but needs improvement in his offensive performance.
He is part of a notable outfield lineup, which includes Jurickson Profar, a standout hitter in the latter part of last season, and speedster Ceddanne Rafaela, who hit 16 home runs and earned an AL Gold Glove last season.