by MLB Europe
Major League Baseball has brought a team of European All Stars to Jupiter, Florida to compete against some of the best young players in America. With the help and support of USA Baseball, the MLB Europe All Stars will compete against teams from the east coast of the United States in the USA Baseball 17U National Championships. The tournament runs from June 16 – 24, with MLB Europe opening against Wolverines Baseball today at Roger Dean Stadium.
By competing in the USA Baseball National Championships, the All Stars will get to prove themselves against some of the best American prospects while also showcasing their talents in front of MLB scouts and university coaches. “The goal of this tour is to raise the performance levels of Europe’s top young players and get as many of them as possible playing in the US, either with Major League clubs or in university,” said Andy Berglund, MLB’s European Academies Coordinator. “Ultimately, we want to give every player on the roster the opportunity to compete at the highest level they can.”
Players on the MLB Europe All Stars were selected by MLB staff from the region’s extensive academies system, with final selections made after April’s MLB Academies Spring Tournament in Barcelona. The team is led by Berglund, along with assistant coaches Martijn Nijhoff (Netherlands), Bill Holmberg (Italy), Boris Rothermundt (France) and trainer Pepijn van Ingen (Netherlands). After opening against Wolverines Baseball, the All Stars square off Thursday against Team Citius Perez and MPi 17u before the start of the playoff rounds on Friday.
Details from the tournament can be found at USA Baseball’s website.
MLB Europe All Stars Roster
Last Name | First Name | Nation | Position | Age |
Astorri | Cesare | Italy | C | 16 |
Balandis | Marius | Lithuania | RHP | 17 |
Censi | Stefano | Italy | RHP | 16 |
Chlup | Marek | Czech Republic | OF | 16 |
Claus | Filip | Czech Republic | IF | 17 |
Coveri | Ludovico | Italy | RHP | 18 |
Draijer | Max | Netherlands | IF | 17 |
Horvatic | Antonio | Croatia | RHP | 18 |
Fabiani | Diego | Italy | RHP | 18 |
Koch | Sascha | Germany | RHP | 17 |
Lenting | Menno | Netherlands | IF | 17 |
Mendelsohn | Daniel | Germany | RHP | 17 |
Nebenfuhr | Jan | Czech Republic | RHP | 16 |
Pomponi | Michele | Italy | RHP | 16 |
Prins | Ruben | Netherlands | C | 17 |
Rip | Julian | Netherlands | IF | 17 |
Scotti | Claudio | Italy | RHP | 16 |
Soliveres | Nolan | France | C | 17 |
Starc | Bor | Slovenia | OF | 16 |
Timmer | Gijs | Netherlands | RHP | 17 |
Tuhumury | Boyd | Netherlands | OF | 17 |
Van der Weijst Servino | Oliver | Netherlands | IF | 17 |
Van Lingen | Timo | Netherlands | RHP | 17 |
Villard | Antoine | France | RHP | 17 |
Walter | Fred | France | IF | 17 |