The first team we’d like to introduce is Baseball Week debutant Spain. Although this Southern European team is making its first trip to Haarlem, with fifteen bronze medals at the European Championships, it’s fair to say they’ve long been the best of the rest behind the Netherlands and Italy.
In recent years, national coach Nelson Prada's team seems increasingly capable of breaking the double hegemony. Last summer's European title proves that the Spaniards can now even compete well with their eternal rivals.
EUROPEAN CHAMPION
In the Czech Republic, the Spanish team generally defeated their opponents with a powerful display of dominance. They finished the group stage with a 36-run lead and only two runs conceded. They effortlessly continued this form in the quarterfinals with an 18-3 victory over Sweden, after which the Dutch Kingdom Team awaited them in the semifinals.
After falling behind early, 6-1, the Spanish team seemed to have no chance of winning, but with a remarkable comeback, the Mediterranean squad managed to turn the game around completely, and after nine innings, the final score was 7-6 in their favor. The British team was then soundly defeated in the final: 11-2.
A LATIN AMERICAN TOUCH
The Spanish team owes this success primarily to a large contingent of South and Central American players. In fact, the vast majority of the squad consists of players born in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, supplemented by a handful of Cubans. The number of players born in Spain is usually limited to just one or two.
Wander Encarnacion was named Most Valuable Player at the European Championship. The 23-year-old third baseman was born in the Dominican Republic but, until this winter, spent his entire career in Spain, where he played for the Tenerife Marlins. He won the title with that team last season before making the move to the Italian league, where he will play for Parma Clima.
Muscleball Baseball
Other players who made an impression at the European Championship included power hitter Omar Hernandez—the Cuban-born player became the tournament’s home run king and led all scorers—the equally powerful Dominican Edison Valerio, and Venezuelan catcher Gabriel Lino. They also have a strong relief duo in the Dominicans Fernando Baez and Rhiner Cruz, who often successfully shut the door once the team takes the lead.
So expect Spain to play a power-hitting style of baseball, both on the mound and at the plate, and if luck is on their side, this team could very well win their first HWH tournament.