The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) has announced that Baseball Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven, who is currently working a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins, has been added to the coaching staff for the 2017 World Baseball Classic as co pitching coach. He will work together with Steve Janssen. He already served as Dutch pitching coach at the WBCs in 2009 and 2013.
Born in the Netherlands Blyleven played in 22 MLB seasons, won 287 games and collected 3,701 strikeouts during his career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Besides manager Hensley Meulens and bench coach Andruw Jones he will be the third former Major Leaguer on the coaching staff. The other assistant coaches will be Sidney de Jong (hitting coach), Ben Thijssen (third base) and Wim Martinus (first base).