Curacao Professional Baseball League (CPB) had its draft, and the rosters for the upcoming season have been created. Here are some notable, big-name players who will be spending time playing in Curacao in January.
Curacao Suns Select Didi Gregorius and Sharlon Schoop
The Suns picked Didi Gregorius and Sharlon Schoop to headline this team. The two recently played together in Premier12, where they represented the Netherlands. During their run in the event, they were two of the best hitters on the Netherlands.
Gregorius spent 11 years in Major League Baseball and played for a variety of teams like the Phillies, Yankees, and Diamondbacks.
Schoop represented Curacao in the Caribbean Series twice, in 2023 and 2024. Before that, he played for the Amsterdam Pirates in Honkbal Hoofdklasse.
Willemstad Cannons Select Jurickson Profar and Andrelton Simmons
The Cannons picked up Jurickson Profar and Andrelton Simmons in the draft. Profar is well-known for his current MLB career with the San Diego Padres. This past season, he batted .280 and had 24 home runs.
Profar was also born in Willemstad, meaning he gets the opportunity to represent his hometown once the league kicks off play.
Simmons is a former major leaguer who won four gold gloves during his career, which lasted from 2012 to 2022. He won the award twice for the Atlanta Braves and twice for the Los Angeles Angels.
Curacao Goats Select Jonathan Schoop
Jonathan Schoop was selected by the Goats as he arguably becomes their headlining player. Much like Gregorius and his brother Sharlon, Jonathan also represented the Netherlands in Premier12 in November.
He also had a solid tournament, batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. He also led the Netherlands in drawing walks.
Schoop also has experience in Major League Baseball, having played for the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers. In 2017, while playing for Baltimore, he was named an all-star.
In 2024, he played in the LMB for Algodoneros de Uinon Laguna. He batted .253, hit 15 home runs, and had 60 RBI.
