Aaron de Groot

Aaron William Finch de Groot

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 190 lb.

• School Park University Gilbert, Cochise College
• High School Thorbecke Lyceum

• Born May 21, 1999

BR register page

Biographical Information

Aaron de Groot has pitched in the Hoofdklasse and for the Dutch national team.

De Groot allowed three runs in four and a third innings for the champion Netherlands team in the 2016 U18 European Championship. He gave up one unearned run in 2 1/3 IP in the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup and saved Donny Breek's win over rival Italy; only Breek made more appearances for the Netherlands than de Groot's three. He debuted in the Hoofdklasse in 2018, going 0-1 with six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 IP for the Silicon Storks.

Going to the US for junior college, he had a 6-4, 4.56 record for Cochise in 2019. He was back in Europe for the 2019 European Champions Cup; pitching for Curaçao Neptunus, he struck out 10 in 5 1/3 IP and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in a no-decision against the Rouen Huskies (Berry van Driel took over and Neptunus would win). He was 9th in the event in opponent average (.150) and 4th in K (between Zach Dodson and Stephen Perakslis). In the 2019 Hoofdklasse, he allowed only three hits, four walks and three runs (two earned) in thirteen innings, whiffing twenty and going 1-0. He did not pitch in the 2019 Holland Series (Neptunus fell to the Amsterdam Pirates).

Transferring to Park University Gilbert for 2020, he was 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA. He was 3-1 with two saves and a 1.93 ERA for Neptunus in 2020, tying for 7th in wins and tying Robin Clara and Mike Groen for 6th in saves. His 12 appearances were second in the COVID-19-shortened season, one behind Clara. In the 2020 Holland Series, he had a rough time. Relieving Diegomar Markwell with a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning of Game 1, he walked four batters before Kevin Kelly took over in the 8th and let one of the inherited runners score to give de Groot the loss. He walked six in 2 1/3 IP for the Series, giving up three runs. He had the highest ERA in the Series and allowed the most walks before it was cut short due to COVID-19 safety restrictions in the Netherlands; neither team was declared the victor.

Back in the US for the college season in '21, he was 3-2 with a 4.45 ERA, fanning 47 in 32 1/3 IP. In the 2021 European Champions Cup, he got the win over Ross Vance and the Heidenheim Heideköpfe with two shutout innings then allowed a run while retiring no one against the Bonn Capitals. He was dominant in the 2021 U-23 European Championship, beating Belgium, Germany and Great Britain as the Netherlands won the title. He allowed no runs in 6 1/3 IP, striking out 15. He led the event in wins (Daniel Mendelsohn was the only other hurler with multiple victories) and was second in strikeouts (one behind Claudio Scotti). He won the Best Pitcher award. He was 3-2 with a save and a 2.48 ERA in the 2021 Hoofdklasse, striking out 39 in 36 1/3 innings and allowing a .177 average (including the postseason). He struggled in the Holland Series again; starting Game 4 of the 2021 Holland Series, he allowed four hits, three walks and two runs in two innings before Kaj Timmermans came in and rescued Neptunus. In Game 5, he replaced Markwell in the 9th with a 6-4 lead but allowed a single to Sharlon Schoop and a walk to Denzel Richardson before Kelly relieved to get out of the jam. Neptunus would lose the last two games, though, to Amsterdam.

Aaron's busy year also included his first appearance for the senior Dutch national team, at the 2021 European Championship. He debuted against the Czech national team, taking over for Shairon Martis with a 7-1 lead in the fifth. He went 1-2-3 against Vojtěch Menšík, Marek Chlup and Adam Hajtmar then turned the ball over to Juan Carlos Sulbaran. His other appearance came in the title game versus Israel. Relieving Kelly with a 4-1 deficit and one out in the top of the sixth, he walked Jordan Petrushka but struck out Joey Wagman and got Itai Goldner to fly out. Groen succeeded him and the Netherlands rallied to win the title. He was also with them for the 2021 U-23 Baseball World Cup and beat Panama. He struck out nine in four innings over three games, allowing two hits and no runs. He tied Koen Postelmans for the team lead in strikeouts.