Marek Chlup

{{short description|Czech baseball player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Marek Chlup | image = Marek Chlup.jpg | caption = Chlup with the Yomiuri Giants | team = Caliente de Durango | number = 37 | position = Outfielder | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|1|9}} | birth_place = Český Dub, Czech Republic | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = NPB | debutdate = July 12 | debutyear = 2025 | debutteam = Yomiuri Giants | statleague = NPB | statyear = 2025 season | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .000 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 0 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 0 | teams = * Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2025}}) }}

'''Marek Chlup''' (born January 9, 1999) is a Czech professional baseball outfielder for the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants. He also represents the Czech Republic national team.

== Playing career == === Early career === Chlup made his professional debut in 2014 with the Arrows Ostrava of the Czech Baseball Extraliga. Following the 2015 season, he moved to the Eagles Praha. Chlup was a member of Praha through the 2023 season, including while he was in college.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://baseball-stat.cz/Hraci/index.php?id=88 |title=CHLUP Marek |website=Baseball-stat.cz |publisher=Baseball-stat.cz |access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>

=== College === Chlup committed to the North Carolina State University for college baseball, playing his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Wolfpack. He transferred to North Greenville University for his junior season, the year the team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://wyff4.com/article/north-greenville-baseball-team-wins-national-championship/40257949 |title=North Greenville baseball team wins national championship |date=June 11, 2022 |work=WYFF |first=Julia |last=Morris |access-date=June 11, 2022 }}</ref> In their 2022 championship season, Chlup hit .390 with 12 home runs and 75 RBI for the Crusaders.<ref>{{cite news |title=NGU baseball player chases dream thousands of miles from home |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/ngu-baseball-player-chases-dream/42699324 |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=WYFF |first=Julia |last=Morris |date=30 January 2023}}</ref> He was named the Conference Carolinas Player of the Year for 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marek Chlup to Represent Czech Republic in World Baseball Classic |url=https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2023/3/8/marek-chlup-to-represent-czech-republic-in-world-baseball-classic.aspx |website=Conference Carolinas |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

=== Lake Country Dockhounds === On July 31, 2023, Chlup signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}</ref> In 34 games with the DockHounds in 2023, he batted .325/.393/.627 with nine home runs, 25 RBI, and six stolen bases.<ref>{{cite web |title=#26 Marek Chlup |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1672596 |website=American Association |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> Chlup signed an extension with the DockHounds on January 2, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}</ref> Prior to the 2024 season, his Extraliga rights were transferred by the Eagles Praha to Tempo Praha, after which he appeared briefly with Tempo while tuning up for the 2024 American Association season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ferková |first1=Zuzana |title=EXL: Marek Chlup officially loaned to Tempo Praha |url=https://milujeme-baseball.cz/2024/02/exl-marek-chlup-officially-loaned-to-tempo-praha/ |access-date=December 13, 2024 |work=Milujeme Baseball |publisher=Milujeme Baseball |date=February 15, 2024}}</ref> On August 7, Chlup, Lake Country shortstop Demetrius Sims, and team broadcaster Dominic Stearn witnessed a bicycle accident near Falls Park, and cared for the victims until paramedics arrived.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trio of DockHounds leap into action to help save man's life before game |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/three-dockhounds-help-save-man-s-life-before-ballgame |access-date=25 September 2024 |agency=MLB.com |date=15 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Yomiuri Giants === On September 25, 2024, it was announced that Chlup had signed a one–year developmental contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=BaseballCzech |user=BaseballCzech |number=1838806598631702999 |date=25 September 2024 |title= 🚨BREAKING NEWS: Marek Chlup signed a 1-year Minor League contract with @TokyoGiants. 🇯🇵🇨🇿 This Czech slugger is headed to Tokyo!}}</ref> Chlup made his debut with the Giants on July 12, 2025. He became the first European-born and developed position player in NPB history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Marek Chlup Makes NPB History with Yomiuri Giants Debut|url=https://worldbaseball.com/marek-chlup-makes-npb-history-with-yomiuri-giants-debut/|last=Duda|first=Jeff |website=World Baseball Network|date=July 12, 2025|access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> He also became the first Czech-born baseball player in a major professional league since Frank Rooney (Rovný) of the 1914 Indianapolis Hoosiers.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Gaijin Baseball |user=GaijinBaseball |number=1943941062634222006 |date=July 12, 2025 |title=Yomiuri Giants outfielder Marek Chlup has had his contract upgraded, and will be promoted to the first team.}}</ref> After appearing in just two games, Chlup was diagnosed with a left hamate fracture on July 16.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Michael Clair |user=michaelsclair |number=1945891351435903064 |date=July 17, 2025 |title=Crushing news: Chlup made history by appearing in two games ... and now will most likely miss the rest of the NPB season.}}</ref> Before his season-ending injury, he went hitless in five at-bats over two games. On October 28, the Giants announced that they would not be retaining Chlup for the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/npb_reddit/status/1983155352448409983?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw|title=x.com}}</ref>

=== Caliente de Durango === On May 16, 2026, Chlup signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 16 de mayo de 2026|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-16-de-mayo-de-2026|access-date=May 30, 2026|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}</ref>

== International career == Chlup represents the Czech Republic national baseball team in international competition. During the qualifiers for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Chlup hit .353/.353/.706 with two home runs and four RBI to help the Czech Republic qualify for its first ever WBC tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/czech-republic/batting-average/2022 |title=Qualifier Stats – Czech Republic |website=MLB.com |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> In the main tournament, Chlup hit .333/.471/.417, one of the best offensive producers on the 2023 Czech team alongside Eric Sogard and Matěj Menšík.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/czech-republic/2023 |title=Stats – Czech Republic |website=MLB.com |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> During the game against Japan, Chlup hit a double off Rōki Sasaki and later scored to give the Czechs a brief lead.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Jason Coskrey |title=Japan cruises past Czech Republic for third straight win at World Baseball Classic |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2023/03/12/baseball/japan-czech-wbc/ |agency=The Japan Times |date=March 12, 2023}}</ref>

Chlup was selected to the Team Europe roster for the Global Baseball Games exhibition tournament against Samurai Japan, ahead of the 2024 WBSC Premier12.<ref>{{cite news |title=Global Baseball Games: Team Europe come from behind to tie exhibition game against Hayate 223 |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/global-baseball-games-team-europe-come-from-behind-to-tie-exhibition-game-against-hayate-223 |agency=WBSC |date=4 March 2024}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|brm=chlup-000mar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chlup, Marek}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Liberec Category:Czech expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Baseball outfielders Category:Lake Country DockHounds players Category:NC State Wolfpack baseball players Category:North Greenville Trailblazers baseball Category:West Virginia Black Bears players Category:2021 European Baseball Championship players Category:2023 World Baseball Classic players Category:2023 European Baseball Championship players Category:2026 World Baseball Classic players Category:Czech expatriate sportspeople in Japan Category:Yomiuri Giants players Category:Expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:World Baseball Classic players of the Czech Republic