Nick Stuifbergen

Nick Stuifbergen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.

• Born September 6, 1980 in Breda, North Brabant Netherlands

Biographical Information

Nick Stuifbergen is a pitcher in Hoofdklasse who has appeared regularly for the Dutch national team. He is the brother of Tom Stuifbergen.

Nick debuted in Hoofdklasse in 2002 with Kinheim. In 2003, he moved to the Amsterdam Pirates and was 9th in the league in ERA (2.99), 6th in innings pitched (96 1/3), 10th in strikeouts (50), 4th in complete games (3) and tied for 6th in saves (3). Stuifbergen was 8-5 with another 2.99 ERA in 2004. He ranked among the leaders in ERA (7th), innings pitched (4th, 102 1/3), wins (tied for 4th with Dave Draijer and Jeroen Deken), strikeouts (9th, 51) and complete games (6, second to Manny Olivera's 12).

In 2005, Stuifbergen moved to HCAW and became a reliever primarily. He was 2-1 with a save and a 2.09 ERA in 18 games, walking only 13 in 64 2/3 IP. In the Holland Series, he had a 11.57 ERA and one save in one chance in a losing cause. That year, he also appeared in the same game as brother Tom, the first time in 11 seasons that two brothers had pitched against each other in a Hoofdklasse game; Ken Brauckmiller and Kurt Brauckmiller had been the pair then. He debuted for the national team in the 2005 European Championship with a 6.43 ERA for the champs and pitched one inning in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, allowing one hit, striking out one and allowing no runs as the Dutch squad finished 4th, their highest to that point.

Stuifbergen began a busy 2006 with the World Baseball Classic. He pitched the final two-thirds of an inning against Puerto Rico, retiring both batters he faced. He also threw an inning against the Cuban national team, allowing 3 hits and a run. Stuifbergen finished 8th in Hoofdklasse in 2006 with 53 strikeouts. He was 5-1 with a 1.36 ERA, now back as a starter primarily and walked only 13 batters in 73 innings. He finished second to Akira Okamoto in ERA. In the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week, he allowed one run in three innings of work. He then wrapped up the year with the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, allowing one run in 4 2/3 IP and notching a save for the Silver Medal winners.

Nick moved back to Amsterdam and bounced between relief and starting in 2007. He was 2-3 with 3 saves and a 2.29 ERA for the Pirates and helped them to their first playoff appearance in a long time. He was 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA in the playoffs but Amsterdam lost to Kinheim, the eventual champions. Stuifbergen pitched two scoreless innings and got a win in the 2007 European Championship, helping the Netherlands lock up a slot in the 2008 Olympics. In the 2007 World Port Tournament, he had a 6.23 ERA. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he pitched two innings and allowed one run as the Netherlands again finished 4th.

In the 2008 Hoofdklasse season, Stuifbergen was 1-0 with 2 saves and a 2.13 ERA for Amsterdam. He allowed two runs in six postseason innings as the club won the 2008 Holland Series. Stuifbergen was on the provisional Dutch roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic but did not make the final cut. He allowed 4 hits and one run in 2 2/3 IP in the 2009 European Cup's Nettuno phase. In the Final Four phase, he gave up 3 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Stuifbergen went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in the 2009 World Port Tournament.

Sources:

• Honkbalsite
• Defunct IBAF site
• Haarlem Baseball Week site
• Mister Baseball
• Marco Stoovelaar's Dutch baseball site
• Dutch baseball statistics
• 2009 European Cup in Nettuno
• Wayback Archive of the 2005 European Championship site