The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) announced on Friday that Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven once again will serve as pitching coach for the Netherlands during the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He already was in this role during the 2009 World Baseball Classic on the staff of manager Rod Delmonico. This time he will work together with manager Hensley Meulens. Current head coach and IBAF Baseball World Cup winner Brian Farley is going to be the bench coach. Current pitching coach Steve Janssen is going to be the bullpen coach next March.
Blyleven was born in Zeist, Netherlands in 1951, but grew up in the United States. He pitched 22 seasons in the big leagues for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, California Angels and Texas Rangers. He had a 287-250 record with an ERA of 3.31 in 692 games. He was a two-time All-Star and finished in the top five of the Cy Young Award voting three times. He is in fifth place all-time in strikeouts. In 2011 he finally was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, his 14th year of eligibility.
In 2009 the Netherlands stunned the Dominican Republic twice to reach the second round at the World Baseball Classic. Two years later Farley led the Dutch team to a stunning win at the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama, defeating Cuba in the Gold Medal Game. Next March they will play against Olympic Champion Korea, Australia and a qualifying team in the first round for the WBC in Taichung.