Alwin Van Maanen

Alwin van Maanen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11"

• Born February 6, 1976

Biographical Information

Alwin van Maanen has been a long-time pitcher in the Belgian First Division.

Van Maanen began playing for the Antwerp Eagles in 1993, seeing bit action as a hitter for three years. In 1996, he was 2-0 with a 6.86 ERA in his pitching debut. He went 4-8 with a 8.89 ERA and a WHIP over 2 in '97. He allowed a league-worst 107 runs, had the worst ERA of any qualifying starter and tied for the most losses. He was no better in 1998 at 1-4, 9.79. In '99, the righty improved to 2-2, 5.55 followed by a 8-4, 5.97 season. That season, he ranked second in the First Division in victories. He faded to 4-2, 8.53 in 2001 but rebounded to 8-3, 2.90 in 2002. He finished third in wins and fourth in ERA that year, probably his best.

In 2003, the 27-year-old was 2-3 with a 2.70 ERA. Had he qualified, he would have ranked 4th in the circuit in ERA. In the 2003 European Championship, Alwin allowed five hits, two walks and four runs (three earned) in four innings for the Belgian national team, making relief appearances against the Netherlands and Sweden. He did not pitch in 2004 then was 2-3 with a 6.08 ERA in 2005. In '06, he went 2-6 with a 5.72 ERA, finishing second in the First Division in losses and posting the second-worst ERA among qualifiers. He was nearly identical in 2007 (2-6, 5.80), having the third-worst ERA, then did not pitch in the First Division from 2008-2011.

Van Maanen returned to the First Division in 2012 and was 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA and 18 walks in 17 innings. He still pitched for Belgium in the 2012 European Championship, the team's oldest player by 7 years ahead of Yannick Sel. In his lone outing, he was lit up for the worst ERA of the tournament. Relieving Sel in the 5th with a 8-0 deficit against the Netherlands, he allowed a RBI triple to Wesley Connor, then Danny Rombley hit into an error. He retired Dwayne Kemp to end the inning. In the 6th, he walked Mike Duursma and allowed hits to Hainley Statia and Curt Smith. After a four-pitch walk to Bryan Engelhardt, he served up a grand slam to Kalian Sams. Quintin de Cuba and Connor singled, then Rombley drew a four-pitch walk. At this point, Kenneth Sips relieved; he would let all 3 inherited runners score as part of a 17-0 mercy rule defeat in which Van Maanen was charged with 9 runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Sources

• Belgian baseball federation
• 2012 European Championship
• 2003 European Championship
• Royal Antwerp Eagles