Netherlands set to kick off Baseball World Cup against Venezuela amid roster drama

Following an intense build‑up, the Kingdom of the Netherlands baseball team kicks off its World Baseball Classic campaign at 6 p.m. against Venezuela. Ahead of the Pool D opener in Miami, coach Andruw Jones emphasised that while the Dutch aren’t seen as favourites, they’re aiming to win in front of a packed crowd of more than 22,000 fans.

Jones and his players wear a badge with the number 24 on their left sleeves in honour of catcher Sidney de Jong, who passed away earlier this year. De Jong, an Amsterdam native, had been slated to join the WBC as a coach. His jersey is displayed in the locker room for every game, keeping his presence with the team.

The Netherlands will be without Jonathan Schoop and Jurickson Profar. Schoop, who has played for the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers, spent almost a month in Curaçao this year under investigation for illegal arms trading.

Profar faces a 162-game suspension after a second doping violation, and the Atlanta Braves are not required to pay his salary of more than 13 million euros for the upcoming season. Profar filed an appeal to his suspension. The procedure begins Friday.

“This is a grown-man business,” Jones told The Athletic. “He’s not a kid, and everybody knows the rules. They know how many tests they’re doing, what you can take, and what you cannot take. So, after that, I can’t tell you what he’s done or not. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him because he left right away.”

Schoop and Profar are well-liked within the Kingdom team, but coach Jones emphasised: “These are professional players here to win. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have picked them. Other teams face issues too, though they aren’t always public. And if a player suffers a serious arm injury, you can’t play him either. It’s disappointing, but part of the game.”

Jones, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in January, is overseeing his team’s final practice before facing Venezuela. The atmosphere on the field in Miami is easy‑going, with rap music filling the stadium.

Former Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius pauses to sign autographs for supporters, while Xander Bogaerts playfully explains Dutch favourites like herring and kibbeling to a visiting American reporter. With an 11‑year, $280 million contract at the San Diego Padres, Bogaerts is one of the biggest stars on the field, but Venezuela’s roster boasts many high‑profile players, and the Dominican Republic is widely seen as a favourite. “And people forget about Israel and Nicaragua,” Bogaerts said, pointing out that those teams aren’t easy wins. “But we’ve got a group of friends who’ve played together for years. We’re here to compete.

In Group D, Venezuela is the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ opening opponent. Oranje then meets Nicaragua on Saturday and takes on the Dominican Republic on Sunday, with the group phase concluding against Israel on Tuesday.

The top two teams from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals in this 20‑nation tournament staged across venues in the U.S., Japan, and Puerto Rico.

Stars like Ozzie Albies, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Druw Jones are making their first appearances for the side at the World Baseball Classic opener against Venezuela. The trio featured in warm‑up victories over the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays this week, impressive tune‑ups, but not official internationals.

Aruba’s 22‑year‑old pitcher Antwone Kelly, part of the Pittsburgh Pirates system and regarded as a rising talent, gets the start against Venezuela. Joining him in the lineup are seasoned stars and veterans: Ray‑Patrick Didder, Bogaerts, Sharlon Schoop, Chadwick Tromp, Gregorius, and Hendrik Clementina.