Kris Beeckmans

Kris Beeckmans

• Throws Right

Biographical Information

Kris Beeckmans played for the Antwerp Royal Greys from 1991-2003 as a pitcher and infielder. He also spent time with the Belgian national team. His son Tom Beeckmans later played for Belgium as well.

Beeckmans was 4 for 14 with 4 walks, 6 runs and two RBI in 1991, allowing four runs in 1 2 /3 IP. In '92, he hit .197/.344/.211 and did not pitch. The next year, he batted .269/.376/.280; he allowed 18 hits, 6 walks and 19 runs (12 earned runs) in 5 2/3 IP. In 1994, he hit .167/.389/.167. He was 4-3 with 8 saves and a 5.97 ERA. He improved to .308/.429/.359 in 1995 and was 2-2 with 3 saves and a 9.12 ERA. In the 1995 European Championship, he was 0 for 2 with a walk, hit-by-pitch and two RBI on offense and pitched briefly (4 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, HB, WP, 2 K, 2 R). He was third on Belgium in ERA (behind Roger de Saedeleer and Frank Mathys).

Kris was 8-5 with 14 saves and a 6.83 ERA for the 1996 Royal Greys. He tied for first in the league in saves and was third in wins. He was 6 for 31 with six walks. In '97, he had a 5-3, 7.65 record with 12 saves. He tied for second in saves (two behind Alwin van Maanen) and tied Dave Eyckholt for 5th in wins. He saw less time at the plate (4 for 21, 5 BB). In 1998, he hit .243/.370/.270 and was 5-9 with 18 saves and a 8.97 ERA. He tied for second in saves, tied for 4th in losses and led with 26 wild pitches. In 1999, he was 3-2 with 7 saves and a 9.30 ERA and went 4 for 14 with 3 walks.

In the 1999 European Championship, the right-hander started one game and beat Slovenia (6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 4 BB, 2 R; relieved by Tom Lorrentop). Only Andre De Wit had a better ERA for Belgium; de Wit had their only other win as well. In 2000, Beeckmans was 2-2 with four saves and a 7.89 ERA while hitting .260/.353/.288. The next year, he did not pitch and batted .240/.319/.250. He hit .268/.344/.286 in 2002 and was 3-0 with 3 saves, a 1.23 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 22 innings. In his last campaign, he was 3 for 16 with four walks in 2003.

He later was a coach.

Sources

• First Division stats
• 1995 and 1999 Euros stats courtesy of international statistician Harry Wedemeijer
• Brasschaatse Film