With the French National Men’s Baseball Team focused on performing well at the CEB 2014 European Baseball Championship — hosted by the Czech Republic and Germany — in September, Team France will head overseas to Phoenix, Arizona (USA) for an elite ‘Spring Training’ from March 3rd to 10th. (See schedule below.)
France will be looking to build and develop upon last year’s Spring Training — where for the first time since the inaugural French National Team was formed eighty-five years ago in 1929, ‘Les Bleus’ competed in exhibition games against two MLB affiliates.
Team France has set their eyes on meeting or exceeding their best-ever performance in a European Baseball Championship. In 1999, France won the bronze medal at the Euro Championship.
Manager Eric Gagné’s French National Team will play friendly exhibition contests against four Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations of the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox — and two colleges. Gagne will oversee training and Team France’s seven games within an intense eight-day burst.
Appointed last September, Gagné — a three-time MLB All-Star, MLB Cy Young award winner, MLB World Series champion, and current MLB record-holder for consecutive saves — has set new expectations for the No. 32 ranked French programme.
In 2012, the French squad lost matches to No. 17 ranked Spain and No. 31 South Africa at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier.
France will head into the 2014 European Championship ranked No. 8 in Europe.
According to the French Baseball and Softball Federation (FFBS), participation in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier and Gagne’s appointment as Team Manager have given a boost to France and has opened up “a brand new dimension” for France’s growth and development in continental and world competitions.
FFBS President Didier Seminet expressed his satisfaction having a successful former-professional baseball player lead ‘Les Bleus’.
“Eric was our Pitching Coach at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in 2012. He was of great help – [The athletes and other coaches] all felt that he was very involved and supportive in French baseball achieving success,” Seminet said.
FFBS oversees 11,000 athletes and organises a premier division/national baseball league.
France’s National Baseball Team Spring Training Roster
Team France’s USA Spring Training Schedule:
March the 4th: training
March the 5th: Los Angeles Dodgers VS France
March the 6th: San Diego Padres VS France
March the 7th: training
March the 8th: San Diego Padres VS France
March the 9th: Seattle Mariners VS France
March the 10th: Chicago White Sox VS France
March the 11th: Paradise Valley Community College VS France
March the 12th: Seminole State College VS France
