WBC roster breakdown: The Netherlands

February 28, 2:15 PMMLB ExaminerAlex Brown

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When it comes time to choose players for the World Baseball Classic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands doesn’t have a large group to choose from.  They pull talent from the Netherlands, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles to form a unique squad that does in fact feature some big league level talent.  Here’s a look at their roster for the 2009 WBC:

• Pitchers: David Bergman, Leon Boyd, Robbie Cordemans, Diegomar Markwell, Dennis Neuman, Sidney Ponson, Alexander Smit, Tom Stuifberge, Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Rick VandenHurk, Berry Van Driel, Michael van Kampen, Pim Walsma

Only Ponson and VandenHurk have big league experience among this group of pitchers.  Ponson, a native of Aruba, has 90 career wins in the majors and VandenHurk has five.  Diego Markwell has pitched as high as Double A for the Blue Jays, and Alexander Smit has 22 wins in the minor leagues pitching in the Cincinnati Reds system.

• Catchers: Sidney de Jong, Kenley Jansen, Sharlon Schoop

Kenley Jansen hit .298 in Single A in 2008 (Dodgers affiliate), and Schoop is a catcher in the san Francisco Giants system. 

• Infielders: Sharnol Adriana, Yurendell de Caster, Michael Duursma, Vince Rooi, Randall Simon, Curt Simon, Hainley Statia

Randall Simon is the most successful in this group – he has a .282 lifetime average in a 9-year big league career.  Yurendell de Caster has played in the majors as well as an infielder/outfielder in a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• Outfielders: Bryan Engelhardt, Greg Halman, Gene Kingsale, Danny Rombley, Dirk Van Klooster

Gene Kingsale has a lifetime .258 average in the major leagues, and is known to have above average speed.  Greg Halman has put together some nice years in the minor leagues (Seattle Mariners affiliates), most recently hitting 29 homers in 2008 (split between A+ and AA).

Notable Absences: Calvin Maduro, Shairon Martis, Jair Jurrjens, Ivanon Coffie, Andruw Jones

The Netherlands probably won’t be competitive in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but there is more talent there than people would assume.  I’ll be watching for prospect Greg Halman, who I think has a good chance to be able to contribute on a major league roster in the near future.