From November 27 through December 4, the third Curacao Baseball Week will be held. This year’s event will start on November 27. On that day all participating players will arrive and later that day a press conference will be held. On November 28 with a fund raising diner and an auction of collector items of MLB players and other objects at the Blue Bay Beach Resort. The money raised with the auction will be spend on the local baseball youth. Last year the money was used to donate baseballs to all baseball organizations on the island, help for the Dutch Caribbean Baseball Academy and the MLB kids trip to Miami. Earlier this year one of the coaches, Ben Thijssen, accompanied the kids to Miami.
During this week, the participating children will get a clinic in the Tio Daou Ball Park, given by the participating players from Curacao, who play in the MLB, MiLB and in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. So far, the following players have confirmed their participation to the Curacao Baseball Week 2015: Andruw Jones, Didi GregoriusNew York Yankees), Wladimir “Coco” Balentien (Yakult Swallows), Jonathan Schoop (Baltimore Orioles), Shairon Martis (Lincoln SaltDogs), Sharlon Schoop (Orioles organization), Diegomar Markwell (Curacao Neptunus), Hainley Statia, Yurrendel de Caster, Kevin Moesquit (Corendon Kinheim), Juremi Profar (Rangers organization), Carlton Daal (Reds organization) en Juan Carlos Sulbaran (Royals organization). Other names of big stars will be announced in the coming weeks. Coaches/managers Hensley Meulens, Ben Thijssen and Steve Janssen will also participate to the CBW. Hensley Meulens and Steve Janssen will join the event after the Premier 12 tournament.
Next to the clinic, the participating children will have a chance for a meet and greet with their heroes.
During the children’s clinics, the kids will be watched closely by the coaches and players. The kid with the most talent, eagerness to learn and passion/ambition. The six biggest talents will have the chance to travel to Miami with a parent to attend a game of the Miami Marlins.
OnSaturday November 28 and Sunday November 29, the local coaches and international coaches can follow a seminar to broaden their knowledge. They can subscribe at the website of the Curacao Baseball Week.
The week will be concluded on Friday December 4 in the Tio Daou Ball Park. On this night an All Star RBI Senior League will be played, followed by a softball game between the team CBW and team Curacao. After the softball game a homerun derby will be held. The night will be concluded by a concert of a local band and fireworks.
Here is the program of this magnificent event:
Dutch Baseball Hangout 