Spanish
Miami.- The Major League legend Andruw Jones has been officially named as the manager of the Netherlands national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as announced this Tuesday by the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation.
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Jones, a native of Willemstad, Curaçao, has an extensive history with the Dutch team, which he has represented in all editions of the tournament, either as a player or coach. He was part of the team in the inaugural Classic of 2006 and returned as a player in 2013, when he batted .333/.441/.370, guiding the Netherlands to a memorable fourth place. More recently, he served as a bench coach in the 2017 and 2023 tournaments, under the command of Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens, who left the national team in December 2023.
“It's a tremendous honor to manage the Netherlands Kingdom team in the World Baseball Classic,” Jones expressed on social media. “I have worn the uniform as a player and coach, and now being entrusted with the team's management is a great honor. I can't wait to put together a great team with my coaching staff.”
Netherlands is part of Group D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, along with Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Israel, and Nicaragua, hosted at loanDepot park in Miami, home of the Marlins, between March 6 and 11. The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals against the teams qualified from Group C.
After finishing in 13th place in the 2023 edition, the Netherlands will seek a new boost under the leadership of a historical figure like Jones, who adds to his resume five All-Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves during an outstanding career in MLB.
