Tom de Blok

In this Dutch name, the surname is de Blok, not Blok.

Tom de Blok
Neptunus – No. 37
Pitcher
Born: (1996-05-08) 8 May 1996
Amstelveen, Netherlands
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Netherlands
European Baseball Championship
2016 Hoofddorp Team
2019 Bonn Team
2025 Rotterdam Team
2023 Czechia Team

Tom Robin de Blok (born 8 May 1996) is a Dutch professional baseball pitcher for the Neptunus of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse and the Netherlands national team. He pitched in Minor League Baseball from 2017 to 2019.

Career

Seattle Mariners

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

HCAW

Back in the Netherlands, de Blok joined Mr. Cocker HCAW in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse for the 2014 season. As a reliever, he had an 0–3 record with 2 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 17 games.[4]

Amsterdam Pirates

In 2015, de Blok joined the Amsterdam Pirates, where he posted a 4–0 record with 3 saves and a 1.54 ERA in 20 games. He had his best season in the Netherlands in 2016, going 5–0 with 5 saves and a 0.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 41 innings.[4] After the season, de Blok had a two-day tryout with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). However, de Blok decided to return to the Pirates.[5]

Detroit Tigers

After his performance in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, de Blok signed a four-year minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers on 10 April 2017.[6][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.[7] 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. de Blok spent all of the 2019 season with Lakeland, recording a 2–13 record and 4.04 ERA in 21 games.[4] de Blok did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] He elected free agency in November.[9]

Amsterdam Pirates (second stint)

de Blok returned to the Amsterdam Pirates following his stint with the Tigers, logging a 2.00 ERA in 5 games with the team in 2020. In 2021, de Blok posted a 3–2 record and 1.64 ERA in 6 games with the team.[4] On 14 May 2021, de Blok threw the fourth perfect game in the history of the Hoofdklasse, defeating DSS/Kinheim 12–0 and striking out seven batters.[10][11]

Pericos de Puebla

On 27 June 2021, de Blok signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He made just one start before he was released on 8 July.[7] He suffered an arm injury after his one game with Puebla.[12] He did not pitch in 2022 due to his injury.[13]

Neptunus

On 1 October 2022, de Blok signed with Hoofdklasse club Neptunus in Rotterdam.[13] 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.[4] De Blok threw a two-hit shutout on 25 April 2023.[14] He equalled his performance in 2024, going 7–1 with a 1.33 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 13 starts.[4] De Blok won two games in the Holland Series[15] as Neptunus swept one of his former teams, HCAW.[16] He was one of the league's best pitchers again in 2025.[17]

International career

de Blok was a member of the Netherlands national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic[18] and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[19][20] His performance in the 2017 tournament led him to signing with the Detroit Tigers.[2][21]

He played for the Netherlands in other tournaments, including the 2016 European Baseball Championship, the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament, and the 2024 WBSC Premier12.[22] de Blok suffered an arm injury in the first inning of the 2025 European championship semifinal game against Spain.[23][17]

Personal life

de Blok has two sons.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "Tom de Blok Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  2. ^ a b c Henning, Lynn. "Tom de Blok proves to be Dutch treat for Tigers". The Detroit News. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Tom de Blok ends Professional Career before starting it". Mister-Baseball. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Tom de Blok Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Tom de Blok stays with L&D Amsterdam Pirates". Mosae Sports. 28 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Tom de Blok signs deal with the Detroit Tigers". The Dutch Baseball Hangout. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Tom de Blok Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  8. ^ Todd, Jeff (30 June 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". Baseball America. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Tom de Blok throws fourth perfect game in Dutch baseball league history". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 14 May 2021.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Visser, Seb (14 October 2021). "Tom de Blok maakt balans op over pechjaar 2021". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  13. ^ a b Stoovelaar, Marco (1 October 2022). "Neptunus acquires pitchers Tom de Blok and Ryan Huntington". Grand Slam * Stats & News Netherlands. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ Network, David Polli (13 October 2024). "Curaçao Neptunus Win 2024 Holland Series - World Baseball Network". World Baseball Network. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Honkballers EK-finalist, werper Kelly maakt indruk als invaller tegen Spanje". NOS (in Dutch). 26 September 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  18. ^ Soveta, Jonathan (9 February 2017). "Teams release World Baseball Classic rosters". theScore.com.
  19. ^ "Grote namen in voorselectie Koninkrijksteam voor World Baseball Classic". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Amateurs en miljonairs, contrast honkballers Oranje groot: 'Toch grote familie'". nos.nl (in Dutch). 7 March 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  21. ^ Breggen, Milan van der (21 May 2017). "'Als ik dominant blijf gooien, is alles mogelijk'". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  22. ^ Visser, Seb (12 November 2024). "Premier12 Game 3: Tegen Puerto Rico op jacht naar belangrijke win". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  23. ^ Clair, Michael. "The standout former MLBers and World Baseball Classic stars who led way at EuroBaseball 2025". MLB.com. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  24. ^ Visser, Seb (13 November 2024). "Monsterzege voor Koninkrijksteam tegen Puerto Rico". HonkbalSoftbal.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2025.
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