Rogier van Zon of Honkbalsite.com is busy these days. He published another preliminary roster for the Dutch Baseball World Cup Team on Thursday evening. 33 names remain on squad until the end of next week, when the Netherlands will play a four-game series against Italy. Afterwards head coach Rod Delmonico and the rest of his staff will reduce the roster to the eligible 24 players. The team has a bye in round one and will start into the tournament in round two.
Currently 15 professional players highlight the roster, highlighted by Yurendel de Caster, Randall Simon and Hainley Statia. The latter two were already confirmed a few days ago. De Caster surprisingly was released by the New York Yankees organization this week, probably to allow him the participation in the Baseball World Cup. He is expected to join the team this weekend or at the beginning of next week. 18 players from the Dutch Hoofdklasse complete the selection. The team started training camp on Tuesday. Some of the players from the US will join the squad in the next couple of days, as some of them are still in contention for Minor League playoffs.
33-Man Roster
Pitchers:
Arshwin Asjes (Midwest Sliders), David Bergman (Corendon Kinheim), Leon Boyd (New Hampshire Fisher Cats), Rob Cordemans (Sparta/Feyenoord), Berry van Driel (DOOR Neptunus), Kevin Heijstek (DOOR Neptunus), Kenley Jansen (Inland Empire 66ers), Michiel van Kampen (Corendon Kinheim), Diegomar Markwell (DOOR Neptunus), Loek van Mil (New Britain Rock Cats), Dennis Neuman (Lowell Spinners), Alexander Smit (Carolina Mudcats), Nick Stuifbergen (L&D Amsterdam), Tom Stuifbergen (Elizabethton Twins), Juan Carlos Sulbaran (Dayton Dragons), Nick Veltkamp (Corendon Kinheim)
Catchers:
Sidney de Jong (L&D Amsterdam), Martijn Meeuwis (DOOR Neptunus), Dashenko Ricardo (Bluefield Orioles)
Infielders:
Sharnol Adriana (DOOR Neptunus), Yurendell de Caster (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees)
Michael Duursma (Konica Minolta Pioniers), Mariekson Gregorius (Billings Mustangs), Raily Legito (DOOR Neptunus), Vince Rooi (L&D Amsterdam), Sharlon Schoop (Connecticut Defenders), Randall Simon (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks), Hainley Statia (Arkansas Travelers)
Outfielders:
Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim), Bas de Jong (L&D Amsterdam), Eugene Kingsale (DOOR Neptunus), Danny Rombley (Corendon Kinheim), Curt Smith (Palm Beach Cardinals)