Andrelton Simmons, shown here with the Chicago Cubs, will play for Curacao at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball en Softball Bond announced last Friday that former Major Leaguer Andrelton Simmons will play for the Curacao national team at the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador during late June.
Simmons played 10 seasons for four organizations in Major League Baseball, starting his career with the Atlanta Braves from 2012-15. He was also with the Los Angeles Angels from 2016-20, the Minnesota Twins in 2021, and the Chicago Cubs last season. Simmons was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and batted .263 with 70 home runs, and 444 RBI.
Simmons signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in March of 2022 before he was designated for assignment on August 6 and elected free agency on August 7.
In February, Simmons played for Curacao at the Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela. He played in seven games for Curacao with 25 at-bats and batted .280 with seven hits, one home run, a walk, and three RBI. Curacao went 2-5 during the Caribbean Series, failing to qualify for the semifinals.
Simmons has played in the three World Baseball Classics for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, participating in the 2013, 2017, and 2023 tournaments, and was a big factor in helping the Netherlands reach the semifinals of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium, where they lost to Puerto Rico 4-3 in 11 innings.
Simmons during the 2017 World Baseball Classic would play in seven games with 32 at-bats hitting .344 he recorded 11 hits, two doubles, three RBI, and walked once during the tournament.
Simmons suited up for the Netherlands in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and played in all four games in Pool A in Taichung, Taiwan. Simmons hit .182 during the tournament in 11 at-bats, recorded two hits, and struck out four times resulting in the Netherlands not qualifying out of pool play.
The baseball event at the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador will be held from June 24 to July 1 at Parque De Pelota Saturnino Bengoa. The other seven nations participating in the Central American and Caribbean Games are World No. 7 Cuba, No. 11 Puerto Rico, No. 3 Mexico, the host nation, 59th ranked El Salvador, No. 17 Nicaragua, the 10th ranked Dominican Republic, and No. 6 Venezuela.
Curacao is ranked No. 32 in the World Baseball Rankings and qualified for the Central American and Caribbean Games by placing third place at the 2022 Caribbean Cup in December in the Bahamas during December, beating the host nation in the third place game 4-2 to secure a spot in San Salvador.
Curacao can bring players that are affiliated with Major League Baseball organizations and are assigned to the lower levels of the minor leagues to the Central American and Caribbean Games.
The roster for the Central American and Caribbean Games will be similar to the team Curacao brought with them to the Bahamas for the Caribbean Cup, filled with players who were recently released from professional organizations throughout the world, their professional leagues on the island from the Rookie, Single-A, and Double-A levels, along with players that have recently played at the collegiate level in the United States.