Why Netherlands' roster has Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius and others with Caribbean connections

Why Netherlands’ roster has Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius and others with Caribbean connections originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Netherlands has long been the “sneaky great” powerhouse of international baseball, and as they head into the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the Kingdom is looking to reclaim its spot among the elite.

With its deep-rooted connection to Aruba and Curaçao, the Dutch squad remains a masterclass in roster construction. While legendary names like Xander Bogaerts and Kenley Jansen return to anchor the team, the 2026 edition marks a significant changing of the guard. After back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2013 and 2017, the team suffered a disappointing 13th-place finish in 2023. Now, under the leadership of newly minted Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, the Netherlands is looking to prove that its “Kingdom” is still a world-class threat.

But some baseball fans might be wondering: Why do these stars play for the Netherlands?

Here’s why stars like Bogaerts and Ozzie Albies can play for the Dutch.

MORE: A deep dive into the WBC eligibility rules

Netherlands World Baseball Classic 2026 rosterPitchers

Player

Team

Throws

Jamdrick Cornelia

Mets (ROK)

Jaydenn Estanista

Phillies (AA)

Wendell Floranus

—

Arik Fransen

—

Lars Huijer

—

Kenley Jansen

Tigers

Antwone Kelly

Pirates (AA)

Jaitone Kelly

Diamondbacks (A)

Kevin Kelly

—

Shairon Martis

—

Eric Mendez

—

Ryjeteri Merite

Reds (ROK)

Justin Morales

—

Shawndrick Oduber

Dodgers (A)

Juan Carlos Sulbaran

—

Derek West

—

Dylan Wilson

Mariners (ROK)

Catchers

Player

Team

Bats/Throws

Hendrick Clementina

—

R/R

Chadwick Tromp

Braves

R/R

Infielders

Player

Team

Position

Bats/Throws

Ozzie Albies

Braves

S/R

Xander Bogaerts

Padres

R/R

Didi Gregorius

—

L/R

Juremi Profar

—

R/R

Sharlon Schoop

—

R/R

Outfielders

Player

Team

Position

Bats/Throws

Dayson Croes

Giants (AAA)

L/R

Ray-Patrick Didder

—

R/R

Druw Jones

Diamondbacks (A+)

R/R

Ceddanne Rafaela

Red Sox

R/R

Delano Selsassa

—

UTIL

R/R

Why is Xander Boegarts playing for the Netherlands?

Bogaerts represents the Netherlands because he was born and raised in San Nicolas, Aruba. Since Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruban athletes compete under the Dutch flag in international baseball competitions. Bogaerts has long been a proud ambassador for Aruban baseball, often speaking about how he hopes his success on the global stage inspires the next generation of kids from the island to pursue the sport professionally.

This 2026 tournament marks Bogaerts’ fourth appearance for the Kingdom, having first played for them as a 20-year-old prospect in 2013. He has frequently noted that playing for the Netherlands is deeply meaningful because it allows him to reunite with fellow Caribbean stars from Curaçao and Aruba—something they can only do while wearing the Dutch jersey.

MORE: Most World Baseball Classic wins by country

Why is Ozzie Albies playing for the Netherlands?

Albies is eligible and plays for the Netherlands because he is a native of Willemstad, Curaçao. Like Aruba, Curaçao is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, making its citizens Dutch nationals for international sporting events such as the World Baseball Classic. Albies has been a vocal supporter of the Dutch team for years, viewing the tournament as a unique opportunity to play alongside the legends he grew up idolizing in the Caribbean.

After missing the 2023 tournament due to injury, Albies’ participation in 2026 is a major milestone for both the player and the program. He often speaks about the “special energy” that comes from the Dutch Caribbean connection, where players from different islands come together to form one of the most athletic rosters in the world. For Albies, representing the Netherlands is about putting Curaçaoan baseball on the map and continuing the legacy of the “Golden Generation” of Dutch middle infielders.

Why is Didi Gregorious playing for the Netherlands?

Gregorius has one of the most direct connections to the Netherlands on the roster, as he was actually born in Amsterdam while his father was playing professional baseball in the Dutch Major League. Although his family moved back to Curaçao when he was five years old, Gregorius holds Dutch citizenship by birth and has spent significant portions of his life and career playing within the Netherlands’ domestic baseball system.

His commitment to the national team is legendary; Gregorius was famously knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau after helping the Netherlands win the 2011 Baseball World Cup. He views the Dutch team as his primary international home and has been a fixture on the roster for over a decade. He plays to honor both his Amsterdam roots and his Curaçaoan upbringing, serving as a veteran mentor for the younger players entering the system in 2026.

MORE: Most World Baseball Classic wins by country

Why is Kenley Jensen playing for the Netherlands?

Jansen is a native of Willemstad, Curaçao, and his history with the Dutch national team is one of the most storied in the tournament. He first represented the Netherlands in the 2009 WBC — not as a pitcher, but as a catcher — before his rocket arm convinced the Dodgers to move him to the mound. Because Curaçao falls under the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jansen has spent his entire international career in the orange and white, helping the team reach the semifinals in multiple editions.

For the 2026 Classic, Jansen has stated that playing is about coming full circle. He joined the squad specifically to play under his childhood hero, manager Andruw Jones, and to give the Kingdom one final ride before his eventual retirement. To Jansen, the Netherlands team represents the starting point of his professional journey, and he considers it a duty to help the small Caribbean islands compete against global giants like the Dominican Republic and the USA.

MORE: Full World Baseball Classic schedule and how to watch the games

Why is Ceddanne Rafaela playing for the Netherlands?

Rafaela is a native of Curaçao and grew up in the same baseball-rich environment that produced stars like Andrelton Simmons and Jurickson Profar. As a citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he is a natural fit for the national team. Rafaela has described his 2026 debut as a dream come true, particularly because it allows him to play in the same outfield managed by Andruw Jones, the man who set the standard for Curaçaoan center fielders

World Baseball Classic eligibility rules

Eligibility is determined by a wide-reaching set of criteria that favors heritage over simple residency. A player is eligible to represent a nation if they are a citizen, a permanent legal resident, or were born in that country or territory. Even without a passport, a player qualifies if they can provide documentary evidence that they would be eligible for citizenship or a passport under that nation’s laws.

The rules also extend to family lineage, allowing players to compete for a country if at least one parent was born there or currently holds citizenship. This is why many MLB stars born in the United States can represent nations like Italy, Israel, or Great Britain, as they only need to prove a direct ancestral link.

A unique advantage exists for the Netherlands because of its political structure. Since Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten are constituent countries within the Kingdom, all players born on those islands are technically Dutch nationals. While these islands often compete separately in other international sports, the WBC allows the Netherlands to combine its European and Caribbean talent into a single “Kingdom” powerhouse, using the same unified eligibility standards as any other nation.

Why Netherlands’ roster has Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius and others with Caribbean connections

Tags: