Former international Andruw Jones will be the head coach of the Netherlands at the World Baseball Classic next March, the unofficial World Cup for baseball players. The former top player will then make his debut as the person in charge of the Dutch team.
“We are proud and happy that Andruw is leading the Kingdom team during the next Classic, which will take place entirely in Miami for us. We expect to be able to delegate a strong team with him,” says technical director Peter Kwakernaak.
Jones was eighteen years old when he broke through in Major League Baseball. In seventeen seasons at the highest level, the Curaçao native hit 434 home runs. He was included in the All-Star team five times.
The 48-year-old Jones has already been part of the Dutch national team’s staff at various tournaments. “I have worn the uniform as a player and coach, and now it is great to be able to lead the team. I can’t wait to put together a fantastic team together with my technical staff.”
The Netherlands is in a tough group at the World Baseball Classic with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Israel. The two best teams qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Dutch team will also play the European Championship in Rotterdam in September. The national team will then still be led by Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen.