Prague Baseball Week (PBW) is one of the most esteemed international baseball tournaments in the world. Held annually at the end of June, it takes place at Eagles Field (Krc) in Prague, Czech Republic. The first PBW was held in 1980 and it has grown from friendly exhibition games to a very competitive world-class tournament.
The “International Stars” concept originated in the Summer of 2013 when Justin Prinstein, Player-Manager of Hrosi Brno in the Czech Extra-League, was asked by the organizers of the Prague Baseball Week to field a team international “imports” playing in the Czech league so that the home-team (Czech National Team) would have to face tougher competition in the tournament. Since each team in the Czech league only has limited international imports, Prinstein sent word out through the European baseball circles that he was looking to field a competitive team for the tournament. More than 50 players from across Europe expressed interest and a team was selected. After beginning the 2013 PBW as the “EU International Stars” the coaches decided to shorten the team name to be more representative of the truly international nature that characterizes the team.
Players, mostly playing professionally in various leagues across Europe, pay their own way to come to Prague to participate in this prestigious tournament and play for one of the best teams that will step onto a European field over that summer.
Testimonials
“[I] was a last minute addition (to the International Stars roster for Prague Baseball Week) to add some depth in the Infield. Our team was represented by players from 9 countries and [we] had a talented international squad, with a deep bench and plenty of pitching to help take on other country’s national teams. After 4 days of pool play (and getting to explore Prague on our day off), we beat an impressive Czech National Team in the championship for the 2nd year in a row. Whether you’re looking to advance your baseball career overseas by catching on with another club or just experience baseball in a new city for a week, I would highly recommend Boomer’s Baseball Tours, especially Prague Baseball Week with the International Stars.”
Alex Lee, U.S.
Tulln Ravens, Austria
Photo credit: Jan Benes
“I was fortunate enough to to be part of the International All-Star team that competed and won in the 2014 Prague Baseball Week. All the guys involved turned in some great performances, that lead to back to back titles for the team at Prague Baseball week. I got to know a lot of great ball players during the week, along with having a blast. I would highly recommend the International Stars team to anyone that gets the opportunity to play.”
Steve Chambers, Australia
Adelaide Bite, Australia Baseball League
Photo credit: Jan Benes
“…Prague was one of the best experiences of my life… Great group of guys, great baseball and a great city. There’s certainly not much more you could ask for than that. If you ever need another pitcher for future tournaments with the stars let me know as I’d love to play for you again.”
Kyle Kennett, U.S.
Attnang-Pucheim Athletics, Austria
Photo credit: Joe Yun
International Stars All-Time Roster
Phil Acosta (USA/Australia) - 2018, 2019
Ben Andrews (USA) - 2019
Jeremy Atkinson (Australia) - 2017
Devon Barker (USA) - 2016, 2017
Travis Bass (USA) - 2013
Jake Benjamin (Canada) - 2019
Andy Berglund (USA) - 2013
Lorenzo Bernardez (USA) - 2019
Dominik Bischof (Austria) - 2013
Mack Boone (USA) - 2018
Kieran Bradford (Australia) - 2014
Dylan Brammer (USA) - 2017
David Brandt (USA) - 2019
Jackson Brebner-Russ (Australia) - 2013, 2017
Eric Brenk (USA) - 2014, 2015
Evan Brisentine (USA) - 2018
James Brown (USA) - 2018
Pavel Budsky (Czech Republic) - 2013, 2014, 2015
Brent Buffa (USA) - 2015
David Burns (Canada) - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Adan Cabrales (USA) - 2017, 2018, 2019
David Carles (USA) - 2017, 2018
Alex Carter (USA) - 2016, 2017, 2018
Sam Casinelli (USA) - 2019
Daniel Catalan (USA) - 2017, 2018, 2019
Steven Chambers (Australia) - 2014
Will Chapman (USA) - 2019
Tyler Chappell (Australia) - 2017
Bryce Cherry (USA) - 2016
Marshall Crawford (USA) - 2015
Patrick Cromwell (USA) - 2019
Jason Daniels (USA) - 2013, 2014
Tanner Donnels (USA) - 2018
Jason Dorchinez (USA) - 2018
Mike Dose (Germany) - 2014, 2015
Chris Doyle (Australia) - 2015
Taylor Eichhorst (USA) - 2015
Justin Erasmus (Australia) - 2016
Ty Eriksen (USA) - 2015, 2016, 2017
Kevin Faries (Curacao) - 2014, 2015, 2016
Jeremie Flores (USA) - 2014
Austin Gallagher (USA) - 2018, 2019
Peter Gehle (USA) - 2016
Harry Glynne (USA) - 2013
Michael Gonzalez (USA) - 2017, 2018
Heath Gray (USA) - 2016
Adam Greenberg (USA) - 2015
Lucas Hagberg (USA) - 2014, 2015
Kenjiro Hatakeyama (Japan) - 2019
Pat Haugen (USA) - 2013
Eugen Heilmann (Germany) - 2013
Rob Herrmann (USA) - 2013, 2014
RJ Hively (USA) - 2018
Lukas Holub (Czech Republic) - 2014, 2016
Chris Horne (Australia) - 2017
Jeff Hunt (Canada) - 2018
Chikara Igami (Japan) - 2016
Daniel Jackson (USA) - 2019
Jason Jarvis (USA) - 2016, 2019
Brendan Jenkins (USA) - 2019
Jimmy Jensen (USA) - 2015
Björn Johannessen (Sweden) - 2016
Julian Johnson (USA) - 2018
Steven Johnson (USA) - 2016, 2017
Terrell Joyce (USA) - 2017
Ryan Juarez (USA) - 2016
Trey Kamachi (USA) - 2018
Josh Keithly (USA) - 2018
Kyle Kennett (USA) - 2014
Szabolcs Kiss (Hungary) - 2016
Kevin Kotowski (Germany) - 2014
Tyler Krobetzky (USA) - 2016
Kade Kryzsko (USA) - 2019
Martin Laube (Czech Republic) - 2013
Alex Lee (USA) - 2014, 2015
Wil Lee (Australia) - 2014, 2015
Tanner Leighton (USA) - 2013
Nikita Lobanov (Russia) - 2014
Matt Lopez (USA) - 2018
Corey Lyon (Australia) - 2015
Cameron Lyons (Australia) - 2013
Max MacNabb (USA) - 2016, 2017
Colin McGowan (USA) - 2016
James McOwen (USA) - 2013
Ruben Manriquez (Venezuela) - 2014
Ketch Marsh (USA) - 2019
Brandon Marshall (USA) - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
Matt Martin (USA) - 2013, 2014
Andrew Medeiros (USA) - 2016, 2017
Luke Melymick (USA) - 2017
Chris Metzger (USA) - 2013
Byron Mills (USA) - 2019
Riley Moore (USA) - 2019
Jordan Moore-Liester (USA) - 2015
Marcelino Morales (USA) - 2013
Dominic Morbidelli (USA) - 2016
Scotty Mulhearn (Australia) - 2014, 2015
Will Musson (USA) - 2014
Will Nahmens (USA) - 2019
Richard Navratil (Czech Republic) - 2013
Petr Novotny (Czech Republic) - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Evan Opperman (USA) - 2019
Ryo Ose (Japan) - 2015
Lucas Owens (USA) - 2019
Przemyslaw Paluch (Poland) - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Melvin Perdue (USA) - 2015, 2017
Justin Boomer Prinstein (USA) - 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
Mason Quick (USA) - 2019
Jake Rabinowitz (USA) - 2014, 2015
Tamas Radvanyi (Hungary) - 2016
Taylor Ratliff (USA) - 2016
Josiah Ring (USA) - 2013
Joe Rivera (USA) - 2019
Wes Roemer (USA) - 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Kevin Roovers (Netherlands) - 2017, 2018
Alex Rubanowitz (USA) - 2018, 2019
Nick Ruppert (USA) - 2017
Ben Salzmann (Austria) - 2015
Gabriel Sandersius (USA) - 2015
David Sandoval (USA) - 2017, 2018
Ryosuke Sato (Japan) - 2017
Ryan Boomer Saunders (USA) - 2018, 2019
Andrew Schenk (USA) - 2017
Rob Sedin (USA) - 2014
Daniel Schmidt (Australia) - 2014
Jack Shannon (USA) - 2014, 2015, 2016
Sam Siddall (Canada) - 2019
David Simone (USA) - 2013
Jaroslav Sitar (Slovakia) - 2015
Julius Spann (Germany-USA) - 2013, 2014
Warren Stehn (USA) - 2016
Mitch Stephan (Germany) - 2015
Michael Stowers (USA) - 2015
Kyle Strauss (USA) - 2016, 2018
Parker Swindell (USA) - 2018
Tyler Thompson (USA) - 2018
Taylor Thurber (USA) - 2018
Kaj Timmermans (Netherlands) - 2013
Rafael Torres (USA) - 2017
Natsuhiko Ue (Japan) - 2018
Elroy Urbina (USA) - 2016
Jorin van Amstel (Netherlands) - 2013
Rick van Dijk (Netherlands) - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Dylan Verdonk (Netherlands) - 2013
Frank Vilacha (USA) - 2016
Tom Ward (Australia) - 2013
Ryoma Watanbe (Japan) - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Nolan Watson (USA) - 2019
Forrest Weaver (USA) - 2017
Troy Weinert (Australia) - 2015
Layton White (USA) - 2014
Joe Wittig (USA) - 2015, 2017, 2018
Justin Woods (USA) - 2019
Josh Wyant (USA) - 2016, 2017
Akimasa Yasuda (Japan) - 2018
Drake Zarate (USA) - 2018
International Future Stars All-Time Roster
Tommaso Aiello (Italy) - 2019
Simone Alfinito (Italy) - 2018
Cesare Astorri (Italy) – 2017
Leonard Backstrom (Sweden) - 2018
Alessio Baldazzi (Italy) - 2019
Maurice Bendrien (Germany) – 2017
David Bergman (Netherlands) - 2018
Riccardo Bertossi (Italy) – 2017
Alper Bozkurt (Germany) – 2017
Marco Cardoso (Germany) – 2017
Claudio Carsaniga (Italy) - 2018
Samuele Catalano (Italy) - 2019
Taylor Clemensia (Netherlands) - 2019
Nicolo Clemente (Italy) – 2017
Daniele Cosoli (Italy) - 2018
Andrea D'Auria (Italy) - 2018, 2019
Aaron De Groot (Netherlands) - 2019
Emmanuel De Los Santos (Italy) - 2018
Nathan Diaby (Netherlands) - 2019
Ruben Divina (Italy) - 2019
Max Draijer (Netherlands) - 2018
Tijani Dunlop (Netherlands) - 2018
Joey Eeman (Netherlands) – 2017
Matteo Friggeri (Italy) – 2017
Stefano Giarraputo (Italy) - 2019
Stefano Grassi (Italy) – 2017
Linus Holmberg (Sweden) - 2018, 2019
Tobias Holmelund (Denmark) - 2018
Vlad Ilyin (Belarus) - 2018, 2019
Ben Johnson (Sweden) - 2018, 2019
Joel Johnson (Sweden) – 2017, 2018
Daniel Johnson (Sweden) – 2017
Shair Lacrus (Curacao) - 2018
Christian Lani (Italy) - 2018
Menno Lenting (Netherlands) – 2017
Matteo Liberti (Italy) - 2018
Alessio Lollo (Italy) - 2019
Aliaksandr Lukashevich (Belarus) - 2018
Giulio Monello (Italy) - 2018
Jimmy Osinga (Netherlands) – 2017
Maor Luca Pasquini (Italy) - 2019
Nick Peels (Netherlands) - 2019
Eduard Pirvu (Romania) – 2017
Thomas Roijers (Netherlands) - 2019
Rene Saggiadi (Italy) – 2017, 2018, 2019
Martijn Schoonderwoerd (Netherlands) - 2019
Matz Schutte (Netherlands) - 2019
Alessandro Serra (Italy) - 2019
Cerilio Soleana (Netherlands) - 2018
Artur Strzalka (Poland) – 2017
Nick Stuifbergen (Netherlands) - 2019
Oskar Syren (Sweden) - 2018
Mateusz Szustek (Poland) – 2017
Marco Valentinuzzi (Italy) – 2017
Jorin van Amstel (Netherlands) – 2017, 2019
Jonah Van Bemmelen (Netherlands) – 2017
Oliver Van der Wijst (Netherlands) - 2019
Kevin Vance (U.S.) – 2017
Robertas Vilimas (Lithuania)
Jorge Vrolijk (Aruba) - 2018
Ulli Wermuth (Germany) – 2017
Angelo Wicklert (Netherlands) – 2017, 2018
Matthias Zotti (Italy) – 2017
The International Stars would like to thank the Prague Baseball Week organizers, in particular Jan Bagin and Jan Drabek, for all their hard work in making the PBW one of the best international baseball events; Jan Benes for his outstanding photography; the Prague Eagles organization for their gracious hosting; Michal Řezáč and the Dugout Cantina for supplying delicious meals & friendly service; special assistant Patricie Sixtova for her organizational & logistical help; Hotel Oaza for the annual accommodations; 3n2 Sports for their generous sponsorship; and all the other teams, fans, and the umpires that make the Prague Baseball Week a welcome home for a bunch of rag-tag baseball players from across the globe.