The 2025 European Men's Baseball Championship was an international baseball tournament organized by WBSC Europe held in Rotterdam, Milan, and Antwerp from 20 to 27 September 2025. It was the 38th edition of the competition.
It was the first edition of the tournament to be held in three countries, as well as the first since 1967 with games held in Belgium.[2]
The Netherlands won the tournament, beating Italy in the championship 6–5 in Rotterdam after beating defending champion Spain in the semifinal. It was the 25th European championship for the Dutch and 27th time facing Italy in the final game. The Czech Republic defeated Spain in the third-place game, their first-ever medal in the tournament. Two Dutch players won the top individual awards, with Didi Gregorius named the MVP and Kevin Kelly the best pitcher.
Hungary and Lithuania, which both lost all their games, were relegated during the tournament.
Qualification
The top 13 teams of the 2023 European Championship qualified automatically for the tournament. The remaining three spots were filled through qualification tournaments in 2024, won by Hungary, Lithuania, and Austria.[3][4][5]
Qualified teams
Group Stage
Four groups of four teams competed in a round robin to begin the tournament. The top two teams from groups A and B qualified for the quarterfinals, the second round of the tournament stage. The first round of the tournament, called the crossover playoff, included the bottom two teams from groups A and B and top two teams from groups C and D. The bottom two teams from groups C and D competed in an best-of-three relegation series.[6][7][8]
One week before the start of the tournament, Group C games were moved from a stadium in Senago to the Stadio Marco Provini in Novara due to poor conditions at the Senago field. The Italian baseball and softball federation agreed to pay for additional transportation costs from Milan.[9][10]
Fan entrance to games in Rotterdam on 20 September were affected by pro-Palestinian protests regarding the Gaza war and Israel's participation in the tournament.[11][12][13] Protesters returned for subsequent Israel games.[14] Rain also delayed some of the 20 September games in Rotterdam.[15]
Two of the three host countries, the Netherlands and Italy, went undefeated in group play while Belgium managed one win and was eliminated from the final round.[8][16]
Group A
Updated to match(es) played on 22 September 2025. Source:
WBSC EuropeGroup B
Updated to match(es) played on 22 September 2025. Source:
WBSC Europe(H) Hosts
Group C
Updated to match(es) played on 22 September 2025. Source:
WBSC Europe(H) Hosts
Group D
Updated to match(es) played on 22 September 2025. Source:
WBSC Europe(H) Hosts
Relegation round
The relegation round was a best-of-three series with the third and fourth place teams of Groups C and D, with the result of the Group stage game serving as Game 1 of the series. The losers of both series, Lithuania and Hungary, was relegated. Both teams lost all their games in the tournament.
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 23 Sep
|
10:30
|
Lithuania 
|
5–13
|
 Greece
|
|
Stadio Marco Provini
|
3:25
|
60
|
Boxscore
|
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 23 Sep
|
15:30
|
Hungary 
|
3–8
|
.svg.png) Belgium
|
|
Squirrels Venue
|
2:44
|
131
|
Boxscore
|
Final round
The Netherlands won the tournament, going undefeated. In the semifinals, avenging a loss to Spain in the 2023 championship semifinals, Dutch pitcher Kevin Kelly relieved the injured Tom de Blok in the first inning and got 16 strikeouts in 8+1⁄3 innings.[17][18] That performance, along with two saves earlier in the tournament, won Kelly the best pitcher award.[19] The Netherlands beat Italy, which had been the only other undefeated team, 6–5 in the championship game. Giaconino Lasaracina, who hit a tournament-leading six home runs, homered for Italy in the loss, while Sharlon Schoop hit a home run for the Dutch and had 2 runs batted in.[20][21][22]
Spain lost in the third place game, 9–2 to the Czech Republic, giving the Czechs their first medal in the European tournament.[23] Great Britain, after finishing second in the 2023 tournament, was knocked out of title contention again by Spain, losing in the quarterfinals.[24]
Championship
Bracket
Crossover playoff
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Third place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 27 Sep
|
14:00
|
Czech Republic 
|
9–2
|
Spain 
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
2:58
|
1,600
|
Boxscore
|
Final
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 27 Sep
|
19:30
|
Italy 
|
5–6
|
Netherlands 
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
3:03
|
3,000
|
Boxscore
|
Fifth place
Bracket
5th-8th place game
Seventh place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 27 Sep
|
11:00
|
Israel 
|
11–5
|
 Croatia
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
2:48
|
217
|
Boxscore
|
Fifth place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 27 Sep
|
16:00
|
Germany 
|
2–0
|
 Great Britain
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
2:52
|
443
|
Boxscore
|
Ninth place
Bracket
9th-12th place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 25 Sep
|
10:00
|
Switzerland .svg.png)
|
0–1
|
 Sweden
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
2:17
|
69
|
Boxscore
|
| 25 Sep
|
11:00
|
Austria 
|
6–3
|
 France
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
3:04
|
223
|
Boxscore
|
Eleventh place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 26 Sep
|
10:00
|
France
|
3–11
|
Switzerland
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
3:28
|
113
|
Boxscore
|
Ninth place game
| Date
|
Local time
|
Road team
|
Score
|
Home team
|
Inn.
|
Venue
|
Game duration
|
Attendance
|
Boxscore
|
| 26 Sep
|
11:00
|
Sweden
|
3–6
|
Austria
|
|
Neptunus Familiestadion
|
3:04
|
223
|
Boxscore
|
Final standings
^ - Relegated to B Pool European Qualifier
Honors and awards
Awards
| Award |
Player |
Ref.
|
| Most valuable player
|
Didi Gregorius |
[19]
|
| Best pitcher
|
Kevin Kelly
|
| Best batter
|
Renzo Martini
|
| Outstanding defensive player
|
Gabriele Angioi
|
| Most home runs
|
Giaconino Lasaracina (6)
|
Statistical leaders
Notes
Notable participants
The championship featured several former Major League Baseball players, including Gregorius, Jonathan Schoop, and Shairon Martis for the Netherlands, Eric Sogard for the Czech Republic, and Luis Guillorme and Rhiner Cruz for Spain.[25][26] Dovydas Neverauskas pitched and played first base for Lithuania.[19]Croatia had first baseman Joey Terdoslavich and pitcher Asher Wojciechowski.[26]
Several former players also managed and coached teams. All-Star Adam Jones was Spain's hitting coach. Former catcher Francisco Cervelli managed Italy, with former executive Allard Baird serving as the team's bench coach.[25][26][27][19] Zach Vincej, Chase d'Arnaud, and Steve Rodriguez were on Croatia's coaching staff.[26][28] Erik Pappas was Greece's bench coach.[19][29] Dennis Cook, the former manager of Sweden and Poland, was Sweden's pitching coach.[19][30]
Broadcasting
The tournament was broadcast on WBSC Europe's paid streaming platform, baseballeurope.tv.[31]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c "Stats". wbsceurope.org. WBSC Europe. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Historic EuroBaseball 2025 to be hosted across Belgium, The Netherlands and Italy". Royal Belgian Baseball and Softball Federation. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ "Hungary wins Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Belgrade, Serbia in undefeated fashion". WBSC Europe. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Lithuania edges Poland to win Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Kutno". WBSC Europe. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Austria wins Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Ashbourne, Ireland". WBSC Europe. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "EuroBaseball 2025 Tournament Overview". WBSC Europe. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "The First Quarterfinalists are Confirmed at the 2025 Baseball European Championship". WBSC Europe. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ a b Fidler, Gabriel (22 September 2025). "Baseball Euros 2025 Day 3: Netherlands Only Top 8 Still Perfect; GB, Germany, Czechs Also Earn Byes –". mister-baseball.com. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Europei 2025: salta Senago, girone qualificazione a Novara » Baseball.it". Baseball.it (in Italian). 15 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "European Baseball Championship 2025 Group C - Moves from Senago to Novara". WBSC Europe. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Pro-Palestinian protestors block Rotterdam stadium ahead of Israel-France baseball match". NL Times. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Politie grijpt in bij demonstratie tegen Israël op EK honkbal in Rotterdam" [Police intervene in demonstration against Israel at European Baseball Championship in Rotterdam]. NOS (in Dutch). 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ Forbes Breaking News (20 September 2025). Police Clash With Pro-Palestinian Protestors Outside European Baseball Cup In Rotterdam, Netherlands. Retrieved 23 September 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Honkballers verslaan Israël op EK na pro-Palestijns protest voor ingang stadion" [Honkballers beat Israel at European Championship after pro-Palestinian protest in front of stadium entrance]. nu.nl (in Dutch). 22 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ Visser, Seb (20 September 2025). "EK Honkbal op openingsdag geteisterd door regen; wedstrijden starten later" [European Baseball Championship plagued by rain on opening day; matches start later]. HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ "Standings". WBSC Europe. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ "Honkballers EK-finalist, werper Kelly maakt indruk als invaller tegen Spanje". NOS (in Dutch). 26 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Visser, Seb (26 September 2025). "Heroïsche Kevin Kelly en solo homeruns helpen Koninkrijksteam langs Spanje". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ a b c d e f "2025 Baseball European Championship - Daily Report Final" (PDF). WBSC Europe. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
- ^ "Italy@Netherlands - Baseball European Championship 2025". WBSC Europe. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
- ^ Fidler, Gabriel (27 September 2025). "Baseball Euros 2025 Day 7: Title No. 25 for Netherlands". mister-baseball.com. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
- ^ "Honkballers voor de 25ste keer Europees kampioen na krappe zege op rivaal Italië". NOS (in Dutch). 27 September 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
- ^ "Czechia Win their First Ever Medal at the European Championship". WBSC Europe. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
- ^ "EuroBaseball 2025: Spanish Experience Outshines British Youth in Quarter-Final Clash". Bat Flips and Nerds. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ a b Visser, Seb (18 September 2025). "Bekijk hier de rosters van de EK deelnemers". HonkbalSoftbal.nl.
- ^ a b c d Clair, Michael (24 October 2025). "International Beat". MLB.com. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "La seduta del Consiglio Federale del 25 luglio". Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (in Italian). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ "Four Pepperdine Baseball Alums Set to Lead Croatia at European Championship". Pepperdine University Athletics. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ Clair, Michael (25 September 2023). "Former MLBer Erik Pappas is back and playing for Greece ... at 57 years old". MLB.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Ben-Akiva, Erez (18 June 2025). "New Chatham Manager 'Glad To Be Back'". Cape Cod Chronicle. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ "2025 Baseball European Championship". baseballeurope.tv. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
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