Beziers are once again the Division 2 French champions. Without a playoff match, they automatically qualify for promotion to Division 1 for the 2025 season. Baseball TV France met with François Bonnet, President of the Beziers Pirates, to better understand this new team in the top tier of French baseball.
BTVF: It’s been a few years since Beziers dominated Division 2 and reached the gates of Division 1. What are the key milestones in this progression?
F.B.: Since 2013, the club and its board have invested heavily in youth development with municipal support
and we’ve always built our progress on solid foundations, never rushing things.
We learned a lot from the two national finals we lost in 2015 (N2) and 2018 (N1), while becoming aware of the club’s potential. With improved training facilities, progress has been steady and controlled. All these elements converging towards one goal: establishing our credibility with all stakeholders (local actors, federation, league, parents, players). Division 1 is the culmination of this work.
BTVF: What are the goals for improving the field, partnerships, and volunteering to support the challenges of Division 1?
F.B.: Undeniably, we must improve the reception and surroundings around the stadium. 2025 will see the installation of bleachers and the long-awaited clubhouse. Expanding the concession stands is also planned in the short term. I remind you that we will host Little League France in 2025 and 2026, and for the club, this is an event at least as important as a promotion to D1. On the field, the infield of field number 1 is part of a large municipal plan to install synthetic turf. We hope for 2026-2027. Creating television broadcasts, burying and expanding the dugouts, raising the scoreboard cabins are also medium-term projects.
I’ll quickly mention our volunteering, which is one of the club’s strengths and will remain so.
We are working to triple the elite budget, and in terms of partners, we will further solidify our relationships with the municipality and public actors since baseball will be the only men’s D1 sport in the city. Additionally, we will approach our historical private partners but already have proposals from new contributors.
BTVF: In terms of sports, recruiting foreigners and the JFL are already part of your daily routine. What more is needed?
F.B.: Hiring a new manager tailored for D1 is a priority. Improving player quality and consistency, showing imagination and boldness in scouting. Myself and my board have total confidence in our general sports manager Lionel Teixidor, who has become a master in this area.
BTVF: Many players from the pole used to go to Montpellier or Toulouse, and now they can go to Beziers. How will you attract them?
F.B.: We’ve already been hosting young players from the France Pole for two years. This year, there were four in the D2 lineup, and some are from the local Beziers training program! Our club has always maintained that these young players should gain experience in the lower division before facing D1, and our club project interests players and families.
We are of course participating in Saturday’s draft in Toulouse. I’m not worried about our sports manager’s ability to attract new profiles.
BTVF: How do you envision next season in terms of the championship and the France Challenge in terms of objectives?
F.B.: In a very tight D1 (too tight?), it will be very difficult to make our place among clubs that have been established for years. We will aim for survival and learning to lay solid foundations, as we have always done, to then go higher and shake things up. There will be a large and passionate crowd for matches in Beziers, with the most beautiful view in France as a bonus. We could create some surprises!
BTVF: What do you expect from the new federal olympiad that is starting?
F.B.: As a candidate on Didier Seminet’s list, I expect a new momentum and a lot of passion, and I will strive to represent the voice of the clubs and their on-field experience. If we are lucky enough to be elected, I know Didier will be very sensitive to this and will not fail to energize the whole.
BTVF: What can we wish you?
F.B.: That we are spared from injuries and that we offer beautiful baseball to our public and our young players in 2025.
Photo credits: Frédéric Volpato and Celia Baudchon
