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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Tournament Dates
September 20–27, 2025
Host Countries – Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium
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Title Contenders
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 Netherlands
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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Germany
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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Great Britain
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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Semi-Final Dark Horses
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.
