The Dutch national baseball team, which had twice been completely defeated by the Hanwha Eagles, the lowest in the KBO league for three consecutive years, is showing off its potential by winning two consecutive victories in the World Baseball 메이저놀이터, Classic (WBC). As a team that advanced to the WBC semifinals in two consecutive tournaments in 2013 and 2017, it is showing its true value in the main game.
The Netherlands defeated Panama 3-1 in the second match of Group A of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan on the 9th (hereinafter Korean time). ‘Active big leaguers’ Xander Bogatz and Jurickson Profar led the Netherlands to victory with three on-base performances including a home run.
The Netherlands defeated Cuba 4-2 in the first game the previous day (8th). Roger Bernardina, a veteran outfielder from the KBO League KIA Tigers, played an active role with two hits, one walk, and three on-base.
They won two games in a row thanks to the stable relay pitching of the pitchers and the concentration of the batting line that scored when necessary. The Netherlands, which topped Group A with two consecutive wins, had an advantage in advancing to the quarterfinals.
Even before the start of the WBC, the Dutch looked uneasy. Key players who played an active role in American-Japanese baseball, such as Andrelton Simmons, Didi Gregorius, and Vladimir Valentin, passed their heyday after six years, and Rick Vandenhulk, the ace pitcher, retired. Big league finisher Kenley Jansen also decided not to participate in the first round, and was evaluated for his unprecedented power.
The performance in the practice game before the competition was also not very good. On the 20th and 22nd of last month, in Arizona, USA, they lost consecutively to Hanwha, the lowest team in the KBO League. After losing the first match 1-4, the second match suffered a 4-15 loss. On the 26th, they won against the LG Twins 7-5, but on the 28th they lost again to Kiwoom Heroes 2-8.