For the 27th time in 38 European Baseball Championships -- the biggest national baseball team event in Europe that is held biennially -- it came down to the two European superpowers: The Netherlands and Italy. The Netherlands reasserted their spot atop the continent's hierarchy with a tight, 6-5 victory over Italy, who were looking for their first gold medal since 2012.
While the final was a familiar matchup, there was a brand new bronze medalist: The Czech Republic -- the amateur darlings at the 2023 World Baseball Classic -- defeated the reigning EuroBaseball champions, Spain, to win the nation's first ever medal at the event. It's a sign of how far baseball has come in Czechia and across the European continent.
With the tourney over, the Netherlands, Italy, Czechia and Great Britain, who finished sixth, will now look toward the World Baseball Classic in the spring. There will be a few exhibitions and friendlies scheduled -- the Czechs are playing Korea in November, for instance -- before the national teams officially get together before it all begins in March.
Let’s take a look at the standout players from the Euros, many of whom saw big league time or have come up big in previous Classics. Their performance in Rotterdam may have solidified roster spots or challenged their manager to add them to the roster when they're due in the spring.
C: Martin Červenka (Czechia)
Arguably the best hitter to ever come from the country, eventually reaching Triple-A in the States, Červenka nearly carried the team on his broad shoulders. Červenka homered twice in the semifinal defeat to Italy, but then followed it up with a home run and seven RBIs in the bronze medal victory against Spain.
The 33-year-old catcher finished with a .542/.571/1.1125 slash line with four home runs and a tourney-leading 16 RBIs. He also helped guide pitcher Tomáš Ondra through 8 1/3 shutout innings after he entered in relief in the bronze medal contest.
"I don't care about personal statistics at all, I don't enjoy them at all," Červenka told Czech sportswriter Martin Hašek after the semifinal loss to Italy. "I'd rather have zero hits in four starts at bat with four strikeouts and win the game. I'm focused on winning as a team."
1B: Renzo Martini (Italy)
A former Yankees prospect with nearly 1,000 Minor League at-bats to his name, Martini put on a hitting clinic at first base for the Azzuri. Martini slashed .480/.552/.640 with 5 RBIs in the tournament. He came up biggest in the semifinal game against Czechia, recording four hits while scoring three runs and driving in three more. Martini earned the Best Batter award for his performance.
2B: Jonathan Schoop (Netherlands)
The three-time World Baseball Classic star (2013, ‘17, ‘23) and 11-year Major League veteran appeared in his first European Championship since before his big league debut. He promptly showed off the swing that led to 174 big league home runs: Schoop hit .364/.464/.727 with two home runs and seven RBIs in Rotterdam.
His brother, Sharlon, was also on the team, adding two home runs of his own from third base.
There was another big league second baseman who deserves some accolades, too: Former Mets infielder Luis Guillorme lined up for Spain, posting a .959 OPS across six games.
SS: Didi Gregorius (Netherlands)
Armed with a big league infield, it’s no surprise that Netherlands walked away from the tournament with the gold medal. Gregorius bounced back from a rough ‘23 tournament to slash .321/.345/.536 with a home run and three doubles. His glove stole a few more hits up the middle, en route to being named MVP of the European Championship.
3B: Willie Escala (Czechia)
You may remember Escala as being on the wrong end of a 102-mph Roki Sasaki fastball at the World Baseball Classic. Back in action for Czechia and lining up at third and center field, Escala displayed a solid glove, a powerful bat, and quick legs. He legged out two doubles, stole two bases, and hit a home run -- though he nearly came through with a grand slam to tie the semifinal against Italy before the ball just hooked foul.
OF: Julian Sanders (Great Britain)
A grad student at the University of Washington this past season, Sanders held down right field and first base for new GB manager Bradley Marcelino. He was a terror for pitchers, going 14-for-27 with five doubles. Sanders had three three-hit games and a four-hit game against Israel.
OF: Delano Selassa (Netherlands)
Selassa blasted his first home run for the national team and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The outfielder, who also starred at the 2023 Euros, launched the go-ahead home run in a tight victory against the surprising Croatian team.
“I had never hit a home run for the Orange, and then it happens exactly at such a moment,” Selassa said afterward. “That's really special.”
OF: Jhorjan Guevara (Italy)
Italy led the tournament in runs, home runs and OPS and it was hitters like Guevara who made it happen. The outfielder hit .458/.533/.833 with two home runs, six RBIs and seven runs scored.
DH: Giaconino Lasaracina (Italy)
Have yourself a tournament, Lasaracina. The 22-year-old – who plays catcher and infield for the Collechio ballclub in Italy’s Serie A – looked solid but not exceptional in the U-23 European Baseball Championship earlier this spring.
Facing adults out on the ballfield, Lasaracina went off. The youngster led the tournament with six home runs and 32 total bases, and was second behind Červenka with 15 RBIs. He punctuated his home run against the Czechs in the semifinals with not just a bat flip, but a helmet toss, too.
P: Kevin Kelly (Netherlands)
It’s one of the greatest pitching performances you’ll see. When Netherlands ace Tom de Blok went down with an injury just two outs into the Kingdom’s semifinal against Spain, Kelly stepped up. The right-hander, who has been pitching in Mexico for the past two summers, threw 8 1/3 shutout innings with 16(!) strikeouts to guide the Netherlands to the final. The reliever finished the tournament tossing 10 2/3 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts.
P: Markus Solbach (Germany)
Germany’s ace came up in the clutch once again. The veteran pitcher who reached Triple-A and got the win against China in March at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, was overpowered against his European foes. The German native pitched 14 shutout innings against Czechia and Italy -- two medaling nations.
P: Pablo Guillén (Spain)
Guillén looked great at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, pitching six shutout innings against South Africa. He kept that up at the Euros: The right-hander tossed 11 more shutout frames, including six innings with eight K’s in a rematch of the 2023 final against Great Britain.