The Honkbal Hoofdklasse, the top baseball league in the Netherlands and arguably, in all of Europe, gets underway today. Curaçao Neptunus, the biggest baseball powerhouse in Europe, is fresh off its 20th championship in 2024. A year in which they went a combined 28-2 and did not lose a single game in the playoffs. They’re back for more in 2025.
Neptunus is led in the rotation by long-time high-level starters in the Hoofdklasse, Tom de Blok and Shairon Martis, and LHP Ryan Huntington. All three pitchers will be in contention to make the Kingdom of the Netherlands roster at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Tom de Blok posted a 1.29 ERA in 105 innings and is the ace for Neptunus.
Offensively, the big addition for the defending champs is Belgian IF/OF Drew Janssen. He was one of the best hitters in Germany in 2024 with 8 HR and an OPS of 1.077 for Heidenheim Heideköpfe. He should be starting for Neptunus in the OF.
Neptunus will also have two of the best prospects in the league in 2025. Djevan Jansen, who pitched in the U18 European Championship in 2024 as a 15-year-old and went five innings with six strikeouts against Belgium for the Netherlands, is on the roster this year.
The race for the championship once again figures to be a three-team race between Neptunus, HCAW, and the Amsterdam Pirates. All three have won championships in the last 3 years and have the best rosters once again. HCAW lost to Neptunus in the 2024 Holland Series. They’re led on the mound by RHP Lars Huijer. Huijer, one of the best pitchers in the Hoofdklasse, posted a 1.58 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 147 2/3 innings. It’s a team that will be led by their rotation, with Dennis Burgersdijk and Nelmerson Angela joining him to form one of the best rotations in the league.
Amsterdam Pirates, the champions from 2023, will be led offensively by Quintin de Cuba. He posted a .987 OPS and 4 HR in 2024. On the mound, Chris Stuart, who played college baseball at Texas and Houston, figures to play a prominent role. Pim Vijfvinkel, who played for the Netherlands in the Premier12, should be their top reliever. They likely will take a step back offensively in 2025, but should still be a top 3 squad in the Hoofdklasse.
With the World Baseball Classic in 2026, a strong showing will be needed for many players in the Hoofdklasse, as they try to crack a tough roster with many minor leaguers looking for a spot. Tom de Blok, Ryan Huntington, Lars Huijer, and Shairon Martis are all pitchers who have a good shot at making it. One position player to watch to potentially crack this team is UVV first baseman Marvin Jakobus. He was the clear leader in home runs in 2024 with 10 and the highest OPS of all players with more than 20 at-bats with an OPS of 1.015. He established himself as one of the elite hitters in the Hoofdklasse.
The Honkbal Hoofdklasse season can be streamed at honkbalsoftbal.tv and on the official YouTube channel of the Kingdom of the Netherlands federation.
