Baseball TV France has spoken to the representatives of the 10 Division 1 clubs set to face off in two pools this 2023 season. Each team reflects on their 2022 performance and outlines their goals for this year. Recruitment, club structure, and new coaching staff are all tools to navigate a season that could see two or even three teams relegated to Division 2 next year.
The 2024 championship will feature 8 teams split into two pools. To avoid the drop this year, finishing top of your pool is a must. Rouen and Savigny, last year’s finalists, will be gunning for the top spot in their respective pools. In Pool A, the battle for second place will be between Montigny and La Rochelle, but Toulouse is off to a strong start this year. In Pool B, Sénart and Montpellier, who struggled last season, will be eager to secure their spot.
Next up are the relegation playoffs, where in Pool A, PUC hopes to keep their hopes alive by finishing above Montigny. Nice and Metz will also be fighting hard. Neither pool is an easy ride, and it’s anyone’s guess whether the usual results will repeat this year.
For us fans, it’s a treat. A competitive championship, with new French talents shining brighter than ever. Clubs will also need to adapt their rosters if new rules on locally trained players come into effect in 2024.
As for foreign players, there’s been plenty of buzz, but we’ll have surprises right up until March 17th, just two days before the opening day. We can already reveal that every title-contending team has either recruited or retained an ace or two who throw over 90 mph. It’s become a staple of this championship that games started by foreign pitchers are low-scoring strikeout fests.
Three clubs will continue to broadcast their matches: Sénart, La Rochelle, and Rouen. You can catch them on the Baseball TV France app on your phone or online at www.baseballtv.fr, as well as on each club’s YouTube channel.
Bring on opening day!
