The World Series roots of the Curaçao pipeline

MILWAUKEE – The physical island of Curaçao is approximately 171 square miles, which makes it roughly the size of Denver. Two current stars from the island – Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and Brewers second baseman Jonathan Schoop – are now opponents in the National League Championship Series.

The tiny Caribbean island has become one of the hottest places for baseball development, and the explosion of talent can be traced back to the 1996 World Series.

Andruw’s influence

In 1996, the Braves’ Andruw Jones became the first player from Curaçao to appear in the World Series. Although a teenager at the time, he came out with a bang by hitting two home runs in Game 1 of the Fall Classic against the New York Yankees to help the Braves take an early advantage.

Although the Braves didn’t win that World Series, Jones became a household name and a hero back home.

“To see Andruw hit two home runs in the World Series in 1996 started hope that if he can make it why not us?” said Jansen, who became the second player from the island to appear in the World Series last year.

Jones wasn’t the first player from Curaçao to make to the big leagues. Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens made his debut as the first from the island with the Yankees in 1989. Jones was the first player from the island to become a superstar, though, appearing in five All-Star Games while winning 10 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.

Changing the game

After his emergence in the 1996 World Series, Jones went back to Curaçao and immediately worked to improve the approach to the game.

“On the island, they practice all year long but the season is so short,” Jones told La Vida Baseball. “I think they only played about 50 games, something like that. Their season was much shorter than it is in the States.”

Jones established a preseason tournament for the best young players on the island. The tournament winner earned the chance to meet the man who had quickly become the hero of nearly every young player on the island.

“I was part of his tournament,” Schoop remembered. “We won it, and he brought us to Atlanta to watch him play. That made my dream come true to come to the U.S. and watch Andruw Jones play from Curaçao.”

Jansen has similar memories of the significance of the tournament in his development and aspirations to become a big league player someday.

“I was 9 years old and I remember him throwing out the first pitch,” Jansen said. “It was pretty awesome to see your hero from Curaçao come home and show some appreciation. I looked up to him and believed in myself, and here I am 22 years later.”

The growing game

Almost every major leaguer from Curaçao has come through the Andruw Jones tournament.

The list of players from the island in the majors continues to grow and become more impressive.

In addition to Jansen and Schoop, Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies represented Curaçao in the 2018 postseason. Jurickson Profar of the Rangers, Didi Gregorius of the Yankees and Andrelton Simmons of the Angels also are Curaçao natives.

Gregorius is the only player from that list who didn’t play in Jones’ tournament.

“When I look around it makes me proud,” Schoop said after Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. “Everyone has established themselves now and we’re playing in the big leagues as All-Stars. It makes me feel good and it makes us feel good about the island. It’s a small island, but there’s more to come.”

Continued Influence

Jones has remained in contact with most of them. He continues to work with the Braves organization, so he stayed in touch with Albies as he followed his path to Atlanta. For Jansen and Schoop, the guidance comes from a mentor they consider to be like an older brother.

“During the World Series last year he was very vocal with me,” Jansen said. “The other day he texted me just to say hi. To have a relationship like that with a player you considered a hero is special. He opened up all the hopes for us. And here we are all playing here in the big leagues because of him.”

Schoop also talks to Jones during the season, reaching out when times are good or bad for encouragement and coaching.

“When I have tough times I talk to him,” Schoop said. “He’s positive all the time so just to talk to him it makes you feel good.”

Both players said they find strength and confidence in their ability to talk to a player like Jones, who appeared in 18 postseason series during his illustrious career.

For Jones, the relationship also feels brotherly. He has a sense of pride for playing a role in their development.

A bright future

Jones ran his youth tournament for more than a decade. He then handed it over to Jansen. He returns to the island frequently and has a vision for bigger things to come for baseball.

“My goal is to build a facility down there so the kids can have better places to practice and play,” Jones said. “Hopefully in the future we can have even more kids from Curaçao make it to the majors. I just want Curaçao to be known for having a lot of baseball talent.”

Meulens, who coached the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, has also put together a one-week camp around the Thanksgiving holiday. He brings current and former major league players and coaches to the island to provide instruction and support for kids who dream of one day following their heroes to the big leagues.

Jansen and Schoop look to Jones and Meulens as the two leaders who will take baseball in Curaçao to the next level with their influence and commitment to growing the game.

His part as a role model for the next generation of players isn’t lost on Jansen.

“It’s like I remember Andruw Jones coming out to throw out the first pitch in his tournament,” he said. “You just keep giving young kids hope. Baseball is in a great place now in Curaçao. What Andruw and Bam Bam have done, you’re going to keep seeing good results in the future.”

Featured Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport

Inset Image: Harry How / Getty Images Sport