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Tom de Blok

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Tom de Blok
Pitcher
Born: (1996-05-08) 8 May 1996 (age 30)
Amstelveen, Netherlands
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Netherlands
European Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place2016 HoofddorpTeam
Gold medal – first place2019 BonnTeam
Bronze medal – third place2023 CzechiaTeam
Gold medal – first place2025 RotterdamTeam

Tom Robin de Blok (born 8 May 1996) is a Dutch former professional baseball player who pitched for the Netherlands national team in two World Baseball Classic tournaments. He pitched in Minor League Baseball from 2017 to 2019, one game in the Mexican Baseball League in 2021, and several stints the Honkbal Hoofdklasse from 2014 to 2025.

Playing career

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Seattle Mariners

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On 26 August 2013, de Blok signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners after participating in an MLB European Academy in Germany and throwing a 90 mile-per-hour fastball.[1][2][3] However, on 17 April 2014, de Blok formally retired from professional baseball, saying he was not happy with his experience in America.[1][4]

HCAW

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Back in the Netherlands, de Blok joined HCAW in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse for the 2014 season. As a reliever, he had an 0–3 record with two saves and a 3.20 earned run average (ERA) in 17 games pitched.[5]

Amsterdam Pirates

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In 2015, de Blok joined the Amsterdam Pirates, where he had a 4–0 record with three saves and a 1.54 ERA in 20 games. He pitched well in 2016, going 5–0 with five saves and a 0.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 41 innings.[5] After the season, de Blok had a two-day tryout with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). However, he decided to return to the Pirates.[6]

Detroit Tigers

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After his performance in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, de Blok signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on 10 April 2017.[7][2] He made his affiliated debut with the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, pitching once for the Low-A Connecticut Tigers in June. Working as both a starter and reliever, he had a combined 4–2 record and 2.74 ERA in 82 innings.[8] He spent the first two months of 2018 with the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers before being demoted back to West Michigan. He had a combined 5–6 record and 4.71 ERA in 19 starts.[5] He suffered a broken elbow that season.[9] de Blok spent the entire 2019 season with Lakeland, recording a 2–13 record and 4.04 ERA in 21 games.[5] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] He elected free agency in November.[11]

Amsterdam Pirates (second stint)

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de Blok returned to Amsterdam, with a 2.00 ERA in five games in 2020. In 2021, he posted a 3–2 record and 1.64 ERA in six games with the team.[5] On 14 May, de Blok threw the fourth perfect game in the history of the Hoofdklasse, defeating DSS/Kinheim 12–0 and striking out seven batters in a seven-inning game.[12][13]

Pericos de Puebla

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On 27 June 2021, de Blok signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican Baseball League. He made just one start before he was released on 8 July.[8] He suffered another elbow injury after his one game with Puebla, having surgery after returning to Amsterdam.[14] He did not pitch in 2022 due to his injury.[15]

Neptunus

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On 1 October 2022, de Blok signed Neptunus of the Hoofdklasse.[15] In 2023, he resumed his effectiveness in the Dutch league, with a 7–0 record, a 1.59 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in 14 starts.[5] He threw a two-hit shutout on 25 April 2023.[16] He matched his performance in 2024, going 7–1 with a 1.33 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 13 starts.[5] de Blok won two games in the Holland Series[17] as Neptunus swept one of his former teams, HCAW.[18] He was one of the league's best pitchers again in 2025.[19] After suffering another broken elbow in the 2025 European Baseball Championship, de Blok was unable to pitch but appeared as a batter for Neptunus in the 2026 regular season finale, striking out. He announced his retirement following the game.[9][20]

International career

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de Blok was a member of the Netherlands national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC)[21] and the 2023 WBC.[22][23] He threw two scoreless innings in the 2017 tournament,[5] which led him to signing with the Detroit Tigers.[2][24] In the 2023 WBC, he made one start, allowing one run in three innings against Cuba.[5][25]

de Blok played for the Netherlands in other tournaments, including the 2016, 2019, and 2023 European Baseball Championships, Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament, and 2024 WBSC Premier12.[26] He suffered an arm injury in the first inning of the 2025 European championship semifinal game against Spain.[27][19] That short start was his 26th and final international game, as he retired due to injury in 2026.[9]

Personal life

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de Blok has two sons.[28]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Tom de Blok Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Henning, Lynn. "Tom de Blok proves to be Dutch treat for Tigers". The Detroit News. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Gollin, Rob. "Overzee volgt voor menig jonge honkballer een ontnuchtering". de Volkskrant (in Netherlands Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "Tom de Blok ends Professional Career before starting it". Mister-Baseball. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tom de Blok Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Tom de Blok stays with L&D Amsterdam Pirates". Mosae Sports. 28 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tom de Blok signs deal with the Detroit Tigers". The Dutch Baseball Hangout. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Tom de Blok Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Honkbal moet verder zonder topwerper De Blok: 'Ik wilde niet nog een keer door die pijn'". NOS (in Dutch). 17 August 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Todd, Jeff (30 June 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". Baseball America. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  12. ↑ "Tom de Blok throws fourth perfect game in Dutch baseball league history". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 14 May 2021.
  13. ↑ Stoovelaar, Marco (13 May 2021). "Tom de Blok throws Perfect Game in Amsterdam Pirates-win vs. DSS/Kinheim". Grand Slam * Stats & News Netherlands. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Visser, Seb (14 October 2021). "Tom de Blok maakt balans op over pechjaar 2021". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  15. 1 2 Stoovelaar, Marco (1 October 2022). "Neptunus acquires pitchers Tom de Blok and Ryan Huntington". Grand Slam * Stats & News Netherlands. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  16. ↑ Stoovelaar, Marco (26 April 2023). "Neptunus shuts out Twins Oosterhout on 2-hitter in series-opener". Grand Slam * Stats & News Netherlands. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "Tom de Blok bevrijdt Neptunus van frustratie: 'Helaas is honkbal niet zoals voetbal in Nederland'" [Tom de Blok frees Neptunus from frustration: 'Unfortunately, baseball is not like football in the Netherlands']. headliner.nl (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  18. ↑ Polli, David (13 October 2024). "Curaçao Neptunus Win 2024 Holland Series". World Baseball Network. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Honkballers EK-finalist, werper Kelly maakt indruk als invaller tegen Spanje". NOS (in Dutch). 26 September 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Amsterdam Pirates@Curaçao Neptunus - Lucky Day Hoofdklasse 2026". KNBSB Stats. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Soveta, Jonathan (9 February 2017). "Teams release World Baseball Classic rosters". theScore.com.
  22. ↑ "Grote namen in voorselectie Koninkrijksteam voor World Baseball Classic". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  23. ↑ "Amateurs en miljonairs, contrast honkballers Oranje groot: 'Toch grote familie'". NOS (in Dutch). 7 March 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  24. ↑ van der Breggen, Milan (21 May 2017). "'Als ik dominant blijf gooien, is alles mogelijk'". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  25. ↑ Netherlands' Tom de Blok throws the first 2023 WBC Strike-Out❗️⚾️ WBC #baseball #Netherlands #Cuba. Fox Sports. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  26. ↑ Visser, Seb (12 November 2024). "Premier12 Game 3: Tegen Puerto Rico op jacht naar belangrijke win". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  27. ↑ Clair, Michael. "The standout former MLBers and World Baseball Classic stars who led way at EuroBaseball 2025". MLB.com. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  28. ↑ Visser, Seb (13 November 2024). "Monsterzege voor Koninkrijksteam tegen Puerto Rico". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
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