Czech Slugger Jakub Sladek to join Team Europe as well

Just one day after it was revealed that Mike Bolsenbroek joins Team Europe due to an open spot, another country gets added to the roster for the Global Baseball Matchup against Samurai Japan. According to a Facebook entry by the Czech Baseball Association, Jakub Sladek has received the nod to join the selection of players from the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany and France.

The 25-year-old Prague native has been a former Minor Leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies. The lefty hitter is a first baseman and batted .518 with five home runs, nine runs and 13 RBI in eight games during the European Championship last September. He was tied with Gianison Boekhoudt from the Netherlands as home run leader of the tournament.

Team Europe, which has been selected by Dutch manager Steve Janssen and his Italian pendant Marco Mazzieri, will leave for Japan on March 3. Following a couple of workouts and an exhibition game against Yomiuri Giants minor leaguers they will take on World No. 1 Japan on March 10 and 11 (10am CET) at the Tokyo Dome. The two games will be broadcasted by Eurosport 2 in Europe.