The Curaçao Professional Baseball League announced its rosters ahead of a brief 2026 season that begins Jan. 31.
The league will play a three-day round-robin format, followed by a championship game Feb. 3. The defending champion Curaçao Goats will face the Willemstad Cannons and the Curaçao Suns for the title. The champion will advance to the Serie de las Américas, which begins Feb. 5 in Venezuela.
Curaçao Goats Preview
The Goats are seeking a second straight championship and will field a roster that includes several former minor leaguers. Among them is outfielder Darren Seferina, who spent five seasons in the minor leagues and played in 2025 for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol as well as in Curaçao’s top summer circuit, the Curaçao National Championship AA.
Seferina was the league’s top hitter for the Wildcats KJ74, leading the circuit with a 1.226 OPS.
One of the Goats’ top pitchers will be Cerilio Soleana. The former Cincinnati Reds prospect has pitched exclusively in Curaçao in recent years and was one of the premier arms in the Curaçao National Championship AA in 2025. Soleana posted a 1.58 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 40 innings. He tied for the league lead in complete games and shutouts in what was the best season of his career in Curaçao.
Willemstad Cannons Preview
The Willemstad Cannons may feature the league’s most explosive offense. Their roster includes former minor league catcher Hendrik Clementina, former minor league outfielder Ray-Patrick Didder, former major league infielder Jonathan Schoop, and current Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar.
Profar is the most notable name in the league. After a breakout 2024 season in which he was named an All-Star with San Diego, Profar signed a three-year deal with the Braves in January 2025. His season was derailed when he was suspended for performance-enhancing drugs on March 31.
After returning, Profar struggled in July before surging in August, when he hit .295/.428/.598 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs. It marked just the second time in his career that he posted an OPS above 1.000 over a full month, and his nine home runs were a career high for any month. In 80 games overall, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. He may be the league’s top all-around hitter.
Another key addition for the Cannons is Schoop, a former MLB All-Star who played 11 seasons in the majors with the Orioles, Twins, Brewers and Tigers. His 174 career home runs rank second among Curaçao-born players in MLB history.
Schoop played a second season in 2025 with Unión Laguna, hitting .280/.333/.467 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs. He is expected to be part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands roster for the World Baseball Classic and will be among the top hitters in the Curaçao winter league.
Curaçao Suns Preview
The Curaçao Suns also feature several recognizable names, headlined by former major league shortstop Didi Gregorius. Gregorius played 11 seasons in MLB with the Reds, Diamondbacks, Yankees, and Phillies. He compiled a .257/.308/.420 career line with 134 home runs and 530 RBIs.
Gregorius has spent the past three seasons in Mexico with Unión Laguna. In 2025, he hit .288/.346/.389 with two home runs and 23 RBIs. He was named MVP of the European Championship in September after posting an .881 OPS to help lead the Netherlands to another continental title.
Another former major leaguer on the Suns roster is Andrelton Simmons. Simmons played 11 MLB seasons with the Braves, Angels, Twins, and Cubs. He owned a .266/.312/.366 slash line with 70 home runs and 444 RBIs. He won four Gold Gloves and one Platinum Glove and is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive shortstops of his era.
After briefly retiring in 2023, Simmons returned to professional baseball in 2024 in Curaçao and played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol in 2025. With Chihuahua, he hit .324/.367/.444 with four home runs and 54 RBIs. Simmons also played for Magallanes in Venezuela’s winter league and will not participate in Curaçao’s winter season.
The Goats will open the season Jan. 31. The Suns will face the Cannons on Feb. 1, before the Cannons and Goats close the round robin portion Feb. 2. The championship game is Feb. 3.
Rosters
Curaçao Goats
Pitchers: Franklin van Gurp, Cerilio Soleana, Nestor Molina, Klevert Martina, Alvaro Sejias, Ruchano Petronia, Djenior Mogen, Arjeneau Martina, Rubyorne Manuel.
Infielders: Darren Seferina, Gedionne Marlin, Kevin Josephina, Lennard Pietersz, Quinsly Balentien, Luis Atiles, Julian Hunt, Ray-Jacson Chirino.
Outfielders: Darwin Gregg Jr., Raysheandall Michel, Peson Revierre, Clay Winklaar.
Catchers: Dabertson Balentien.
Willemstad Cannons
Pitchers: Angel Vilchez, Bruno Giacalone, Temesh Lourens, Sebastian Russo, Jordan Lucas, Ruderly Manuel, Luis Cabrera, Keymer Solorzano, Hershelon Juliana.
Infielders: Judrick Profar, Delano Selassa, Marlison Brunken, Shervyen Newton, Juremi Profar, Jonathan Schoop, Riordan Windster, Raywendley van Gurp.
Outfielders: Jurickson Profar, Sergio Campana, Ray-Patrick Didder, Arjun Huerta, Donovan Antonia.
Catchers: Hendrik Clementina, Yurdion Martie.
Curaçao Suns
Pitchers: Shairon Martis, Randy Beriguete, Gedryon Basilia, Tahj Cunningham, Yency De Jesus, Farid Cijntje, Angelo Palumbo, Egory Manuela.
Infielders: Mairo Martinus, Didi Gregorius, Shendrion Martinus, Andrelton Simmons, Dudley Leonora, Swindley Lint.
Outfielders: Wladimir Balentien, Karim Ayubi, Ericson Leonora, Jakey Josepha, Rushenten Tomsjansen.
Catchers: Neljuk Castellano, Stephen Vidal.
The league champion will advance to the Serie de las Américas in Venezuela on Feb. 5.
WBN Curacao: https://worldbaseball.com/league/curacao/
Photo: Jurickson Profar playing for The Netherlands
