According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle current San Francisco Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens has accepted an offer to manager the Netherlands at the 2013 World Baseball Classic next March. The 45-year-old former professional baseball player, was a member of the Dutch national team at the 2000 Olympics, the 2001 Baseball World Cup and the 2002 Intercontinental Cup. He also worked as a coach for the team during the 2004 Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. An official announcement hasn’t been made yet.
Robert Eenhoorn managed the Netherlands during the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Rod Delmonico in 2009. Brian Farley is the current head coach of the Netherlands, winning the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama nearly 12 months ago. At the 2012 European Championship in Rotterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht the Dutch team again was beaten by Italy and had to settle for second place.
Dutch Major Leaguers rumored to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic are Andruw Jones (New York Yankees), Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers), Roger Bernadina (Washington Nationals), Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta Braves), Jurickson Profar (Texas Rangers) and Kirk Nieuwenhuis (New York Mets). The Netherlands will face Korea, Australia and one of the qualifying teams in the first round from March 2 to 5, 2013 at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.