The Kingdom of the Netherlands was on the winning side of the first game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
They took the game 4-2 against a tougher opponent on paper: Cuba.
Catcher Chadwick Tromp had two RBI and starter Tom de Blok kept the Cubans at bay for three innings, allowing just one run and striking out two.
The Netherlands’ talented infield was crucial in the victory.
Here is a very nice defensive play from new San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts and former shortstop Didi Gregorius.
Bogaerts ➡️ Didi 💪
📺: FS1 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/TQtQ3byMW8
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 8, 2023
A Cuban batter hit a slow grounder to shortstop, so Bogaerts had to charge towards the ball and make a tough running throw.
The runner was very fast, so Bogaerts and Gregorius had to act quickly.
This forced Gregorius to really stretch to get that ball as quickly as he could to complete the play.
Bogaerts had been a mediocre defender for almost his entire career, but rated positively in 2022 with five Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and five Outs Above Average (OAA).
It could be a start of something special on his part: he is going to what is looking like a perennial contender in San Diego, and his defense will be evaluated frequently.
Gregorius was, for a span of a couple of years in the second half of the 2010s, one of the worst defensive shortstops in the game.
It’s nice to see him reinventing himself as a first baseman, and he definitely looked great on that specific play.
Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Schoop complete a very talented Netherlands infield.
They already shocked Cuba, so who is to say they can take it even further?
NEXT: MLB Analysts Break Down Padres' Chances In 2023
