Many observers might be wondering who are the top prospects to look out for so WBSC Europe asked the federations for their input in choosing the Players to Watch.
Here are the six players from the Group B teams.
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BELGIUM Nando Mostaert - SS/3B/1B/P
Mostaert started playing baseball at age 3 and when he was 9 he played in both Belgium and the Netherlands. He started playing softball at age 12 and debuted in the Belgian softball first division at 14. Mostaert appeared in the Belgian top baseball division at age 15 with Deurne Spartans. In 2023, Deurne won the Belgian championship and Mostaert was team MVP at just 17 years old after hitting .365 with 6 home runs.
Mostaert, who still plays softball and this season is hitting .545 in the league, can play shortstop, third, and first on the infield and also can take the mound. Mostaert also appeared in the U-18 Baseball European Championship in 2022.
CZECHIA Jan Kozel - P
Kozel is one of the top prospects in Baseball Czech’s system and is slowly making his way into the senior national team.
He was the best pitcher at the U-15 Baseball European Championship 2021 as he did not allow a single run with 9 strikeouts in 7 innings - 2 starts against France and the Netherlands.
Kozel, who pitches for Arrows Ostrava in the Extraliga, will be a candidate for the ace of Czechia this year after improving tremendously through the experiences of the last two seasons, including the All-Star Game 2023, the U18 Baseball World Cup, and academies tournament in Puerto Rico this spring. Kozel also pitched for Czechia in the U-18 Baseball European Championship in 2022.
FRANCE Timothy Fleming - SS
Fleming is the latest product of the French Baseball, Softball Federation’s strong relationship with the baseball association on the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean. Saint Martin has produced past players who played for the French senior national team, including the still-active Felix Brown.
Fleming was born and raised on the French side of the island and is a highly thought-of infielder.
GREAT BRITAIN Jack Warrington - 1B/3B/C/DH
Warrington played in the U-18 Baseball European Championship in 2022 and was added to the Great Britain U-23 roster last summer. Warrington began playing at 6 years old in Miami and moved to the United Kingdom five years ago and has developed into a big bat who thrives in clutch situations.
Warrington, who plays first and third as well as catcher and DH, is mentally strong and a real leader of the team. He currently plays for Cardiff Merlins in the British Baseball Federation League following spells with Herts Baseball Club and the Manchester Legends.
NETHERLANDS Amarensio Franka - SS/2B
Franka is one of the country’s top prospects and he plays for DSS/Kinheim in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse.
The middle infielder played for the Netherlands at the U18 Baseball World Cup in 2023 after having appeared in the U-18 Baseball European Championship in 2022. He batted .400 in helping the Netherlands finish third at the U-15 Baseball European Championship in 2021.
SWEDEN Gustav Öijen - IF/OF/P
Öijen plays for Karlskoga Bats and earlier in June he participated as a pitcher at the European Development Tournament, organized by Major League Baseball, which took place before the London Series.
Öijen can play the infield and outfield as well, bringing a strong bat to the team as he displayed in helping Sweden win the qualifier for the U-18 Baseball European Championship last year. Öijen in three games produced a .625/.625/1.125 slash line.
David Hein x WBSC Europe
Cover photo by Jan Beneš
