Filip Van Der Meiren

Filip Van Der Meiren

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born February 1, 1978

Biographical Information

Filip Van Der Meiren was a player and coach for the Belgian national team.

Van Der Meiren spent his entire First Division playing career with the Antwerp Royal Greys. He hit .373/.413/.424 as a part-time player his rookie season in 1996. In 1997, he batted .304/.385/.446 and stole 8 bases in 9 tries. The next year, he hit .353/.458/.541 with 43 runs, 43 RBI and 18 steals in 21 tries, while fielding .888. He tied for third in steals, behind Roger De Saedeleer and Robby Verhaert.

In 1999, Van Der Meiren produced at a .373/.509/.530 clip for the Royal Greys. He hit .319/.459/.511 in 2000, scoring 35 runs. He ranked 6th with 23 walks. During 2001, he hit .349/.500/.438 with 48 runs, 29 walks and 21 steals in 21 tries. He was third in runs (behind De Saedeleer and Randy Giorgiadis), was second in steals (one behind Verhaert) and was second to Daniel De Sutter in walks. He also fielded .947 after three straight seasons under .900.

In the 2001 European Championship, he was Belgium's main second baseman. He hit .227/.320/.273 with 3 runs and 4 RBI in 7 games, stealing two bases in two attempts. He fielded .947. Only Verhaert drove in more runs for Belgium. Van Der Meiren led the event in assists (32) and double plays (8, tied with Giorgiadis). He hit .355/.419/.484 for the 2002 Royal Greys, fielded .955 and stole a league-best 20 bases without being caught.

Van Der Meiren struggled in limited action in 2003 (5 for 36, 2 2B, 3 BB, 4 HBP, 3 SB). He also was 2 for 12 with a walk, run and an error with Belgium in the 2003 European Championship. In 2004, he hit .295/.411/.393 for Antwerp. He batted .296/.403/.417 in 2005, fielding .940. In '06, he hit .324/.455/.495 and scored 39 runs. He was second in runs (one behind Giorgiadis), tied for the most doubles (10) and tied for 5th in walks (21).

The infielder hit .293/.419/.488 with 31 runs, 29 RBI and 22 walks in 2007, fielding .962. He was third in the First Division in runs (behind Giorgiadis and Sim Ruts), tied for second in doubles (3 behind Giorgiadis) and sixth in walks. In 2008, he hit .304/.401/.472 with 35 runs, 11 doubles and 20 walks. He tied Kevin Knollenburg for 5th in runs, tied Knollenburg and Bryon Bell for 4th in doubles, tied for 4th with 9 steals and led with 96 assists (27 ahead of runner-up Dennis De Quint). He fielded .938.

In the 2008 European Cup in Grosseto, Filip was only 2 for 20 for Antwerp with a walk, run, RBI, two steals, eight whiffs and five errors (fielding .848). He tied Jan-Niclas Stöcklin for the tourney lead in errors though his four double plays tied for the lead. With Belgium in the 2008 European Championship Qualifiers, he played third (Benjamin Dille was at 2B). He was 4 for 16 with four walks, two hit-by-pitch and a double. He was 4th in OBP and tied for first in steals as Belgium advanced to the 2009 European Championship.

Van Der Meiren's last season as a player was 2009; his offensive production was down (.259/.381/.356) though he still had 32 runs, 27 RBI, 15 steals in 16 tries and 24 walks. He fielded .903. In the 2009 European Cup, the veteran was 3 for 18 with 3 walks, a HBP, one time caught stealing, two errors and an Antwerp-best three runs. He retired at year's end to focus on running the Flemish Baseball Academy. He also managed Belgium in the 2009 European Junior Championship.

Van Der Meiren became manager of the Brasschaat Braves for 2011; it is unclear how long he held that role. He coached for Belgium in the 2014 European Championship.

Sources

• Belgian Baseball Federation
• Mister Baseball
• CEB stats since 2006
• International baseball statistician Harry Wedemeijer