The 2025 European Baseball Championship concluded on Saturday in Rotterdam with a gold medal game that delivered. In a thrilling final, the Kingdom of the Netherlands edged Italy, 6–5, to capture their record 25th European Championship title.
This final was a testament to resilience and redemption. After both the Netherlands and Italy failed to finish in the top two in 2023—a first in the history of the tournament—they returned to the summit with renewed determination. Both teams entered the final undefeated, setting the stage for a classic encounter between two European baseball heavyweights.
While the Dutch roster featured recognizable names from Major League Baseball, it was a combination of former MLB players and breakout performers from players who have never reached MLB who carried the team.
Jonathan Schoop, a former MLB infielder, led the offensive charge. He posted a 1.191 OPS with 2 home runs, anchoring the Dutch lineup with his experience and power.
Hendrik Clementina, who reached Triple-A with the Atlanta Braves organization in 2022 and 2023, was outstanding behind the plate and at it. The catcher produced a 1.188 OPS, launched a home run, walked seven times, and played elite defense throughout the tournament.
Jiandido Tromp, once a Philadelphia Phillies prospect, delivered the finest international performance of his career. Despite a quiet club season in Italy, he thrived in the Dutch uniform with a 1.099 OPS and clutch hitting from the lower part of the lineup.
Kevin Kelly’s Legendary Semifinal and Tournament MVP Performance – Dutch reliever Kevin Kelly was named Best Pitcher of the tournament, and deservedly so. He delivered one of the most dominant stretches of pitching in European Championship history. Over 10 2/3 innings, Kelly struck out 21 batters, recorded two saves, and did not allow a single run.
His defining moment came in the semifinals. After starter Tom de Blok left the game with an injury in the first inning, Kelly entered and proceeded to shut down defending champion Spain. He threw 8 1/3 shutout innings, striking out 16 and neutralizing a Spanish lineup filled with current and former minor leaguers.
Remarkably, this came less than 24 hours after securing a high-stakes save against Croatia in the quarterfinals. The performance was particularly satisfying for Kelly, who had allowed two crucial runs in the 2023 semifinal loss to Spain. This year, he left no room for revenge.
Didi Gregorius Named Tournament MVP – Veteran MLB shortstop Didi Gregorius took home Most Valuable Player honors, finishing with an .881 OPS and providing rock-solid defense at shortstop. He remains a cornerstone for the Netherlands heading into the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where they will again be among the tournament favorites.
Tournament Standouts Across Europe
Italy – Italy’s run to the final was powered by a mix of emerging and experienced talent.
Giaconino Lasaracina was the tournament’s most dangerous hitter. The versatile catcher/OF/DH led all players with a 1.701 OPS and 6 home runs, including multi-homer games against Switzerland and Greece and another in the gold medal game. He had a standout performance ar Prague Baseball Weekss well, that make him a strong candidate for Italy’s 2026 WBC roster.
Renzo Martini, a former New York Yankees prospect, was Italy’s steady force. Now based in Italy, he hit .480/.552/.640 and collected four hits in the semifinal against Czechia to help lead Italy to the final. He was named the best batter of the tournament.
Jhorjan Guevara, a former Phillies prospect that played in the Dominican Summer League, was Italy’s second-best hitter with a 1.366 OPS and two homers. He had three hits in the final that nearly helped secure gold, and is a player to watch who could crack their roster at the WBC.
Czech Republic – Martin Červenka, considered the greatest Czech-born player ever, had a record-breaking campaign. He hit .542/.571/1.125 with four home runs and seven RBIs in the bronze medal game against Spain. Coming off a domestic season in which he hit 21 home runs with just five strikeouts, Červenka led Czechia to its first-ever medal in European Championship history.
The Czechs will compete in Pool B at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, aiming to challenge international powers like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia.
Hungary – Márkó Morua, a 16-year-old San Diego Padres signee, showed why he is one of Europe’s most exciting young prospects. Despite Hungary’s relegation, he posted a 1.476 OPS and struck out only twice. His performance highlights a bright future for Hungarian baseball.
Germany – On a German squad that often struggled to generate consistent offense, Yannic Walther stood out as a breakout performer. The Milwaukee Brewers catching prospect, who spent the 2025 season in Class-A, delivered a standout tournament and firmly established himself as one of Germany’s most promising young hitters. Walther posted a 1.144 OPS with two home runs at the European Championship, providing a much-needed spark in the heart of the lineup. His ability to produce in key moments helped Germany secure a second consecutive top-five finish, further proving their consistency on the European stage.
The 2025 minor league season also showed positive signs for Walther’s development. He finished with a 114 wRC+ from
August 1st on. Now, with his strong showing in Rotterdam, he’ll aim to carry that momentum into the 2026 minor league season, as he continues to climb through the Brewers’ system.
Markus Solbach has long been recognized as the most successful born-and-raised German pitcher, and his performance at the 2025 European Championship further cemented his status as the ace of the national team.Solbach reached as high as Triple-A in the United States, spending time with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization in 2021 and the Detroit Tigers’ system in 2022. He came tantalizingly close to becoming the first German-born-and-developed pitcher to reach Major League Baseball—a milestone still yet to be achieved.
Since departing affiliated baseball after the 2022 season, Solbach has returned home and become a dominant force in the German Baseball League, while continuing to lead the national team on the international stage.
He was instrumental in Germany’s success during the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, tossing 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball against China to earn a crucial win. But his performance at the 2025 European Championship was even better.
In Germany’s opening game, Solbach set the tone with a masterclass against Czechia, throwing seven shutout innings, striking out seven, and leading his team to a dominant 8–1 victory. It was one of the few games in the tournament in which Czechia’s offense was completely neutralized.
He followed that with another gem in the quarterfinals against Italy, a nail-biting matchup that saw Solbach go toe-to-toe with one of the tournament’s strongest lineups. He threw 7 more innings, struck out 7, and allowed just 1 unearned run—giving Germany every chance to advance before they ultimately fell, 1–0, in one of the tightest games of the tournament.
Now in the later stages of his career, Solbach remains a pillar of German baseball and an inspiration to the next generation of German pitchers. His presence will be vital as Germany eyes qualification for the 2026 Premier12 and prepares to host the 2027 European Championship, which may serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Spain – Pablo Guillén, who starred in the 2023 WBC qualifiers, continued his strong form. He opened with 5 shutout innings vs. Sweden and struck out 8 in 6 dominant innings vs. Great Britain in the quarterfinals.
Croatia – Frank Plesac, brother of former MLB pitcher Zach Plesac, delivered the best outing of any pitcher against the Netherlands. He went 6 innings, struck out 3, and allowed just 1 earned run in a tight quarterfinal. Croatia, long a developing baseball nation, held the Dutch to their lowest run total of the tournament.
One of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 European Championship was the continued rise of Croatian baseball. For just the fourth time in their history, Croatia secured a top-eight finish, solidifying their place among Europe’s elite national teams.After narrowly missing the quarterfinals in 2023, Croatia returned with renewed purpose. Drawn into a balanced group with Hungary, Austria, and Belgium in Antwerp, they emerged undefeated in pool play. Their momentum carried into the knockout stage, where they convincingly handled Sweden to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Facing the tournament favorite Netherlands, many expected a lopsided result. Instead, Croatia delivered one of the most impressive team performances of the tournament, holding the powerful Dutch lineup to just three runs—their lowest total in the entire competition. Croatia even brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth inning before falling narrowly, 3–1.
On short rest, Croatia took the field the very next day against Great Britain. Despite the quick turnaround, they fought hard and again had the tying run at the plate in the ninth, ultimately falling just short once more.
Though they finished eighth overall, Croatia’s performance showcased a team that is no longer just a feel-good underdog, but a legitimate top eight European baseball nation. With a young core and growing experience on the international stage, the future of Croatian baseball is bright.
More Dutch Contributions – Jaydenn Estanista, a hard-throwing reliever in the Phillies system, was near unhittable. Over 4 2/3 innings, he struck out nine and allowed just two baserunners. In the final, he recorded the final six outs, including a strikeout of Lorenzo Morresi to clinch gold. The next time he throws on the Kingdom jersey will be Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami. If they are to pull off a huge upset of Venezuela or the Dominican Republic, Estanista will have to come up clutch in high leverage spots.
What’s Next: Premier12 and Olympic Stakes – As European baseball continues to evolve, the 2026 Premier12 qualifiers loom large. Nations like Germany, Czechia, Italy, and Great Britain will aim to qualify for the tournament, with the 2028 Olympics also on the horizon.
Looking ahead to 2027, the European Championship returns, with Germany set to host. That tournament is expected to double as an Olympic pre-qualifier and could be the most competitive edition in the championship’s history. Before that happens, European nations will turn their focus to the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Italy, Great Britain, Israel and Czechia all looking to breakthrough on the biggest stage of international baseball
Final Standings
1) Netherlands
2) Italy
3) Czechia
4) Spain
5) Germany
6) Great Britain
7) Israel
8) Croatia
9) Austria
10) Sweden
11) Switzerland
12) France
13) Belgium
13) Greece
15) Hungary – relegated
15) Lithuania – relegated
