Roger Kops

Roger Kops

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born November 10, 1973

Roger Kops was a long-time pitcher in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.

Kops had a 2.24 ERA for the Pioniers in 2001. He had a 2.48 ERA in '02, finishing 8th in the league. That earned him a ticket to the Dutch national team. In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, Roger was the top Dutch hurler, allowing no runs and 3 hits in 7 2/3 IP; he was their only pitcher with a winning record (Patrick Beljaards was 1-1 and had their other win) and had one of two ERAs on the staff under 5 (Beljaards had the other).

The right-hander went 6-0 in 2003 to tie for 8th in the Hoofdklasse in victories. He played in the 2003 World Port Tournament. In the 2003 European Championship, he struck out 12 in 10 innings and allowed 4 hits, no walks and no runs. He had the lowest WHIP in the event and tied for the best ERA.

Kops allowed 3 runs (1 earned) in 6 2/3 IP in the 2003 Baseball World Cup; only Calvin Maduro and Michiel van Kampen had lower ERAs for the Dutch team. The 30-year-old went 6-1 in 2004 to tie Patrick De Lange for 9th in the league in wins. In the 2004 Haarlem Baseball Week, Roger was on the Dutch squad but did not make an appearance. He did not remain with the Orange for the 2004 Olympics.

Kops had a 5-2, 1.93 record in 2005 to tie for 9th in the Hoofdklasse in wins while placing 9th in ERA. He allowed 3 runs in two innings in the 2005 Baseball World Cup for the worst ERA on the Netherlands staff. It was his last time with the Dutch squad. He was 6-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 2006 to tie Akira Okamoto and Richard Orman for 7th in victories. He struggled in the 2006 Holland Series, going 0-1 with 10 runs, 11 hits and an uncharacteristic five walks in 5 2/3 IP.

Roger was 4-1 with two saves and a 3.06 ERA in the 2007 Hoofdklasse, In the 2007 Holland Series, he was again roughed up, this time for 8 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings in game 3 as Kinheim locked up the Series. He was not helped by numerous defensive lapses by his teammates.

In 2008, the old-timer remained sharp with a 8-2, 2.38 record and only 9 walks in 79 1/3 IP. He was 11th in the league in ERA and tied David Bergman for sixth in victories. He fell a bit in 2009, to 5-3, 3.02. He finally won a Holland Series game in 2009, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA while starting games 2 and 4; in game 2, he beat former minor leaguer Dushan Ruzic. The Pioniers did drop the Series, though, to Neptunus. Kops retired after the Series.