The European Baseball Championship returns this weekend, and the 2025 edition promises to be the most competitive yet. Spain, who claimed gold in 2023 by defeating Great Britain, enter as defending champions for the first time in 70 years. That win marked a shift in European baseball power—Spain’s first title since 1955, and the first time both Italy and the Netherlands finished outside the top two in a tournament where both participated.
Now, Spain sits at the top, but a host of contenders are ready to challenge them for European supremacy.
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Spain
Spain narrowly missed qualifying for the 2026 World Baseball Classic earlier this year but arrives at the European Championship with an even stronger roster than the one they sent to Taiwan.
Key Player – Wander Encarnación, 3B – The 25-year-old slugger from Santo Domingo was instrumental in Spain’s 2023 title run, slashing .550/.583/.950 with two home runs in six games. Despite defensive struggles in the WBCQ—including two costly throwing errors—Encarnación returns with a mission to redeem himself. He’s posted a .438/.516/.686 line with six home runs in the Spanish league this season.
Key Player – Rusber Estrada, C/1B – Estrada brings tremendous power to Spain’s lineup. He led the 2025 WBCQ in home runs and finished with a 1.239 OPS. In Mexico this year, he crushed 13 homers and drove in 46 runs while slashing .326/.405/.579.
Top Arms
Pablo Guillén – The Cuban-born ace dominated at the 2025 WBCQ and was the winning pitcher in the 2023 European final. Expect him to anchor the staff again.
Peter Bonilla – A Los Angeles Dodgers prospect from Barcelona, Bonilla brings local flair and rising velocity with a fastball touching 91 mph to the bullpen.
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The historical juggernaut of European baseball, the Netherlands has 24 titles to its name. After falling to Spain in the 2023 semifinals, the Dutch will be eager to reclaim their crown.
Key Player – Delano Selassa, OF – The 25-year-old MVP of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse hit .379 with 24 stolen bases and starred for the national team at both the 2023 Euros and the 2024 Premier12.
Key Player Hendrik Clementina, C – After nine seasons in the minors, Clementina has reinvented himself in Mexico and Venezuela, hitting .347 with five homers in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional in 2024-25. He spent this season in Mexico and posted a .790 OPS and seven homers with the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.
Top Arms
Tom de Blok – Posted a minuscule 0.71 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 114 innings in the Dutch league and will lead the rotation.
Jaydenn Estanista – The Philadelphia Phillies prospect from Curaçao brings strikeout stuff and will likely be the team’s closer. He posted a 6.14 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22 innings at Double-A Reading. He likely will be on the Dutch roster at the WBC.
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A rising force, Germany combines a lot of youth and veteran pitching.
Key Player – Simon Baumgardt, 1B – Baumgardt was dominant in the 2025 WBSCQ and followed that up with a monster Pioneer League season, hitting 19 HRs with a .653 SLG.
Top Arms
Markus Solbach – The longtime national team ace had another stellar season, posting a 1.04 ERA in Germany.
César Aquino – A young Pirates prospect with supreme command, Aquino could emerge as a top Germany top bullpen option. He posted a 4.18 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings with time spent in the Florida Complex League and Single-A.
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Fresh off a silver medal in 2023, GB is gunning for its first gold.
Key Players
Brendan Beck, RHP – The New York Yankees’ No. 11 prospect posted a 4.44 ERA in Triple-A and could be the best pitcher at the Euros.
Nick Ward, IF – A dynamic power-speed threat, Ward had a 1.805 OPS and four home runs at the European Championship in 2023 and hit 20 homers and 20 stolen bases this season with Lancaster in the Atlantic League.
Reliever to Watch
Jack Seppings – The Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguer had a strong 2025 with a 3.82 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings in High-A and will be a high-leverage arm for the Brits. He will look to earn a spot on Great Britain’s WBC squad.
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Czechia
The hosts of the 2023 tournament, the Czechs return with a balanced squad.
Martin Červenka, C – Posted video-game numbers in the Czech Extraliga and remains the offensive leader. He hit 21 home runs in 35 games with 1.595 OPS and 39 walks and just five strikeouts.
Michal Šindelka, OF – One of Czechia’s top young hitters. He posted a 1.666 OPS with 1 HR at the U-23 European Championship.
Lukáš Hlouch, RHP – Solid season in Extraliga, will need to lead a pitching staff lacking depth. He posted a 2.95 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings in Czechia this season.
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With limited depth, France will rely on its stars.
Ernesto Martínez Jr., 1B – The Brewers prospect struggled for power in Triple-A but could thrive at this level. He posted a .745 OPS and six homer this season.
Top Arms – Nicolas Antoine had a 2.53 ERA in Germany and Quentin Moulin posted a 3.10 ERA in Germany. Both will need to punch above their weight to push France into the quarterfinals or further.
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For the first time since 2010, Italy won’t field any active minor leaguers.
Matteo Bocchi, RHP – The former Cubs farmhand had a strong year in Serie A with a 2.35 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 95 2/3 innings. He is likely Italy’s ace.
Giaconino Lasaracina, C – A young slugger with a 1.040 OPS and five home runs. He could be Italy’s best overall hitter here.
Jhorjan Guevara, CF – The former Phillies prospect provides much-needed pop. He had a 1.291 OPS and 5 home runs in Italy this season.
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Israel
Josh Wolf, RHP – Talented but inconsistent, especially with command (57 BB in 57 IP). He struck out 67 and posted a 4.74 ERA.
Jason Agresti, C – Had a strong offensive year in the Frontier League with an .886 OPS and 11 homers. He should be one of Israel’s top hitters.
Sweden
Per Sjörs, RHP – Starred in their upset of Italy in 2023 with an eight inning, five strikeout performance where he allowed just three earned runs. That performance is why Sweden is in the top two pools and guaranteed to be in the 2027 European Championship.
Joel Johnson, INF – The team’s most complete hitter, he batted over .400 in Sweden this year.
Switzerland
Max Jung-Goldberg, OF – Crushed 26 homers and had an OPS of 1.154 in the Pioneer League. Their best hitter overall.
Dominic Scheffler, RHP – The first Swiss-born and raised player to be signed by a Major League Baseball organization. He pitched in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization this year. He struggled with a 9.36 ERA. With his mid 90’s velocity, he should see more success here.
Austria
Julian Faulhaber, 1B – Posted a 1.204 OPS and 12 homers in Austria this season to lead all hitters in both statistics..
Mo Hackl, RHP – Will carry the load on the mound. He had a 3.87 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings. On a team led by offense, he’ll be their best starter.
Belgium
Drew Janssen, TWP – Key contributor both at the plate and on the mound. He had a 0.95 ERA this season in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse and an .844 OPS with four homers. As he goes, Belgium goes.
Thomas De Wolf, 1B – Power threat with a 1.596 OPS and 12 home runs this season in Belgium.
Croatia
José Herrera, DH – Veteran slugger and posted a .951 OPS in 2021 for Croatia and .876 in 2023. He will provide some pop in the middle of the lineup.
Anthony Susac, RHP – He’s a Texas Rangers prospect in High-A. Had a 5.11 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 44 innings. The most talented pitcher on the staff.
Hungary
Márkó Morua, C – A 16-year-old MLB signee as an international free agent, Morua posted a 1.640 OPS at U18 European Championship qualifier this year.
Martin Morua, RHP/1B – Two-way player who impressed at the U23 qualifiers with a 1.702 OPS and two homers and a 2.69 ERA on the mound.
Lithuania
Dovydas Zakaras, OF – Spark plug of the lineup. Posted a 1.062 OPS at European Championship qualifier in Poland in 2024.
Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP – He’s a former MLB pitcher and Lithuania’s unquestioned ace. He had a 5.96 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings for Jalisco in Mexico this season.
Greece
Noah Zavolas, RHP – Had a strong season in the Netherlands. Posted a 2.06 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings.
Andre Demetral, INF – Offensive leader with power potential.
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The format has changed for 2025. The top eight teams were pre-seeded into Groups A and B and automatically qualify for the knockout round. Groups C and D feature teams vying for the final four quarterfinal spots, determined through crossover games.
Group A (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Spain
Germany
Czechia
Sweden
Group B (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
The Netherlands
Great Britain
France
Israel
Group C (Novara, Italy)
Italy
Switzerland
Greece
Lithuania
Group D (Antwerp, Belgium)
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Hungary
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