Franklin van Gurp
Franklin van Gurp is a Sint Maartener professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. After spending four seasons playing in the minor leagues, van Gurp has pitched in independent leagues, winter leagues and the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. He has represented the Netherlands at the 2019 WBSC Premier12, the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the 2023 European Baseball Championship and the 2024 WBSC Premier12.
Early life
Van Gurp was born on 25 October 1995 in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. He began playing baseball in Sint Maarten, first in Pony League and later in Little League, initially as a catcher before transitioning to pitching. At the age of nine, he moved with his mother, who is Dominican, to the Dominican Republic, where she believed he would have better opportunities for development as a baseball player than in his homeland.After graduating from high school, he moved to the United States and enrolled Chipola College, a junior college in Marianna, Florida, where he played baseball for the Chipola Indians as both a pitcher and a catcher. In 2017, he transferred to the Florida International University, playing for the Panthers appearing in 19 games that season and recording a 0–1 record with two saves, a 2.91 ERA, and 32 strikeouts.
Professional career
Minor leagues
In June 2017, van Gurp was drafted by the San Francisco Giants organization and was assigned to the Arizona Complex League Giants, where he appeared in 17 games and posted a 5–1 record. In 2018, he remained in the Giants organization, playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, San Jose Giants and Augusta GreenJackets. In 2019, he again appeared for the Richmond Flying Squirrels and Augusta GreenJackets before joining the San Diego Padres organization, where he pitched for the Lake Elsinore Storm and the Fort Wayne TinCaps. In 2021 he signed with the Seattle Mariners organization, playing for the Everett AquaSox and the Arizona Complex League Mariners before being released by the club.Amsterdam Pirates
In 2022, van Gurp joined the Amsterdam Pirates of the Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse, where he had a 3-0 record with a 1.42 ERA and 17 strikeouts in nine games. He also pitched in three games at the 2022 European Champions Cup, leading the tournament in losses with two.Gastonia Honey Hunters
On 5 August 2022, van Gurp signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He appeared in three games and recorded a 2.25 ERA. He was released by the team on 26 August.York Revolution
On 26 August 2022, van Gurp was signed by the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He threw in 11 games, recording a 0.79 ERA.Long Island Ducks
On 17 July 2023, van Gurp joined the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He pitched in 25 games with an ERA of 1.85 over 24.1 innings pitched.Kufu HAYATE Ventures Shizuoka
On 2 July 2024, van Gurp signed with the Kufu HAYATE Ventures Shizuoka of the Western League, one of the two minor leagues in Japan. He made his debut and first start with the team on 9 July against the Hanshin Tigers, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing four walks but no hits. He appeared in 10 games, mostly as a starter, finishing with a record of 0 wins and 6 losses with 33 strikeouts and an ERA of 5.87. He was released by the team on 2 October.Charleston Dirty Birds
van Gurp spent the 2025 season with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He appeared in 18 games for the team recording 1 win and 0 losses, with a 3.93 ERA.International career
Van Gurp made his first major international appearance for the Netherlands at the 2019 WBSC Premier12, appearing twice as a reliever against the Dominican Republic and Mexico, totaling 1.2 innings pitched while allowing one run for a 5.40 ERA. The Dutch team was eliminated in the opening round, played in the Estadio Panamericano de Béisbol in Zapopan, Mexico.He was selected to play at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, appearing in three games against Cuba, Panama and Italy, and pitching 2.2 innings while allowing one hit for a 0.00 ERA.
In September 2023, van Gurp represented the Netherlands at the 2023 European Baseball Championship, winning the bronze medal. He appeared in three games as a reliever: in the Netherlands’ 16–3 first-round win against Ukraine, in which he pitched 1.0 scoreless inning; in the 7–6 semifinal loss to Spain, in which he pitched 2.0 innings and allowed two runs; and in the bronze medal game, a 5–4 win over Germany, in which he pitched 0.2 scoreless innings. He finished the tournament with an ERA of 4.91.
In October 2024, he was selected as part of the Dutch squad that competed at the 2024 WBSC Premier12, played in November, where the team was eliminated in the opening round. He made two relief appearances, against Panama and Puerto Rico, and finished the tournament with 1.1 innings pitched and two earned runs, resulting in a 13.50 ERA.