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The Hoofdklasse transfer market, the top Dutch baseball league, closed at midnight on November 30, 2021. Some companies had already announced the new players, but the negotiations also involved the managers. For example, the new national champions of the L&D Amsterdam Pirates had already signed the new manager Ronald Jaarsma, who had been released by Curacao Neptunus after their defeat in Race-7 of the Holland Series 2021. Conversely, second base Raydley Legito left Amsterdam to return to Rotterdam and strengthen the Neptunus team which in turn lost the utility Dudley Leonora, new signing of San Marino. The Italian champions said goodbye to the outside Jiandido Tromp, who left for Rotterdam. These three teams meet in Bonn for the 2022 Champions Cup, where ParmaClima will defend the European title.
Many Hoofdklasse players have decided to end their careers at the highest Dutch level. Who knows, a nice team of new retirees could be formed: among the pitchers Tom Stuifbergen (DSS Kinheim), Berry van Driel (Neptunus), Steven van Groningen (HCAW) and Stefan Iannelli (Twins), receiver Max Clarijs (Amsterdam Pirates), interiors Niels van Weert (Pirates), Benjamin Dille (Neptunus), Jair Bogaerts (Pioniers Hoofddorp, brother of Xander of the Boston Red Sox), Rowan van Hoek (Quick Amersfoort) and among the exteriors Shaldimar Daantji (Neptunus) and Randolph Oduber (Pioniers ). Their diamond positions in the next Hoofdklasse will be taken by young Dutch baseball prospects. The Under18 and the Under23, both new continental champions in Macerata and Verona in this 2021, were in the crosshairs of the teams during the transfer phase of the Hoofdklasse. The Dutch federation KNBSB has announced that the number of members has reached 500 units at the end of the season and after the three European championships.
The most important transfer was that of the starting pitcher Juan-Carlos Sulbaran, European champion in Turin and national champion with L&D Amsterdam, who instead preferred Rotterdam, certainly closer to his residence in Dordrecht. He will not defend his 2021 title, but will try to win that of 2022 with the white and blue jersey of the Curacao Neptunus. His manager at Familie Stadium will be rookie Railey Legito, a former Neptunus player for 13 seasons and with 249 matches in the national team, an almost unbeatable record. Legito will be joined by coaches Jan Collins and Wim Martinus and rookie pitching-coach Diegomar Markwell. The expert left-handed starter intends to play fewer rounds and can only be deployed as a relief. New third base coach will be Quincey Ascension, a five-season ex-winger for the Baltimore Orioles. On the pitch we will see European champions Raidley Legito (Under 18 second base), Dave Janssen (Under 23 catcher), Sheadion Jamanika (Under 23 first base) and pitcher Jayden Gonesh from Silicon Storks and two-time European champion this year in Verona. and Turin.
The Dutch champion team, L&D Amsterdam of president Koen Gijsbers and sponsor John Witte, has reunited with their prodigal son, Ronald Jaarsma, coach of Charley Urbanus and potential successor as manager. After four years in Rotterdam, Jaarsma will return to head coach at Loek Loevendie Stadium and will have Rob Cordemans as coach for pitchers and Allan Hazel and Nick Veltkamp as assistants. In the 2022 selection, Jaarsma will have young European champions such as Tommy van de Sanden (Under 23 shortstop), Scott Prins (Under 23 pitcher), Connor Prins (Under 18 pitcher) and Luca Pastor (Under 18 receiver). Notable players left the Pirates such as pitcher Juan-Carlos Sulbaran and second baseman Raidley Legito (towards Neptunus), pitcher Gio de Graauw and Jair van Borculo towards HCAW Bussum and winger Gilmer Lampe at Fortitudo Bologna. L&D Amsterdam Pirates will meet ParmaClima in the Champions Cup in Bonn, while San Marino with Leonora will challenge Neptunus with Tromp.
