| Dave Draijer | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born:30 September 1973 Heemstede, Netherlands | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Dorotheus Wilhelmus "Dave" Draijer (born 30 September 1973) is a Dutch former professional baseball pitcher.
Draijer represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, where the team finished sixth. He threw 2+2⁄3 innings, allowing two unearned runs. [1] Originally, he was not selected for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but joined the team after an injury to Loek van Mil [2] [3] Draijer pitched in three games, allowing one run in 1+2⁄3 innings as the Dutch finished in seventh place. [4] [5]
Draijer pitched in one 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC) game, allowing a home run to Carlos Beltrán of Puerto Rico. Draijer hit the next batter, Javy López, which drew a warning from the umpire. Draijer escaped the inning without allowing any more runs. [6] [7] He trained with the team ahead of the 2009 WBC but was not selected for the final roster. [8]
Draijer joined the Dutch national team in 2001, pitching in the World Port Tournament and European championship. He won European championships with the team in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007. [8] He was named the best pitcher at the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week tournament after earning three saves in three games. [9] He pitched the final inning of a seven-inning no-hitter against France in the 2010 European championship, allowing one walk. [10] [11] He also was part of the team in the 2005 and 2007 Baseball World Cup, 2006 Intercontinental Cup, and several other Haarlem Baseball Week tournaments. [8]
Draijer also pitched in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse, the top Dutch baseball league. He was a bat boy for RCH-Pinguins growing up. In 1999, he moved to HCAW, and in 2005, he joined Pioniers, [8] primarily working as a reliever. Aside from one season with RCH-Pinguins in 2009, he pitched with the Hoofddorp club through 2013, then made one appearance for RCH-Pinguins in August 2023. [12] [13] He was also a pitching coach with Pioniers from 2011 to 2014. [14] [15]
Several of Draijer's family members also played baseball, including Max Draijer, who also won the NAIA World Series with Tennessee Wesleyan in 2021, Victor Draijer, and Remco Draijer. [16] [17] [18]