Ramstein’s Caden Nims throws to first as teammate Luke Seaburgh watches during the Royals’ 7-5 victory over Stuttgart on Friday, May 24, 2024, in the DODEA-Europe Division I championship game. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Caden Nims doesn’t see himself as being cocky when he steps to the plate.

Instead, the Ramstein junior just is self-assured.

One of DODEA-Europe’s best hitters, Nims could change his batting style depending on the game and pitcher he faces. When the leg kick isn’t working, he uses his hip drive. When the hip drive was off, he went with the leg kick.

That versatility in his swing led to a .595 batting average for Stars and Stripes’ 2024 European baseball Player of the Year.

“I practiced every single one of those different stances, and it’s just knowing that if one doesn’t work, I have the same amount of confidence to go to something else that I can do,” Nims said. “Just having that trust in yourself, having that confidence that you can go out there, do anything and you’ll be good.”

Some of Nims’ highlights this season include a two-double game in a 16-4 win over Kaiserslautern on May 4, amassing seven hits in a doubleheader victory over SHAPE on May 18, with two extra-base knocks in the early game.

Along with his batting prowess, Ramstein coach Alfredo Rios pointed out Nims’ defense at the corner-infield position and his leadership skills as key components to this year’s squad.

And what a year it was for the Royals. They went undefeated at 16-0 and avenged their 2023 final loss to Stuttgart with a 7-5 win over the Panthers in extra innings on May 24 at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

“It was the most memorable team experience I’ve ever had,” Nims said. “We just all came together. Everyone had their spot. Even the nonstarters, they were key behind in the dugout, screaming, getting us going.”

The championship game was unforgettable.

Ramstein led 4-1 in the sixth inning when Stuttgart’s Jackson Boggs parked a three-run shot to tie the game. Nims scored in the top of the eighth off a wild pitch to give the Royals the lead before teammate Jaxon Lundell launched a two-run homer over the left field fence.

The most memorable moment for Nims came right after teammate Conor McGinty allowed Boggs’ four-bagger. Instead of being down, McGinty kept things upbeat and light, which Nims said was a major component to the Royals getting through the tighter moments.

“We met up with Conor on the mound, and I’ll never forget it: He started laughing and he said, ‘Well now, boys, this game is fun,’” Nims said. “I was like, ‘What? You just let up a three-run bomb.’

“This is what you will remember for the rest of your life. You don’t want to remember going out there and being down and stuff. You want to remember going out there with your closest friends. Especially after (Jaxon) Lundell hit that home run, that was so much fun.”

While most of the team celebrates near the pitching mound, Ramstein’s Caden Nims falls to the ground Friday, May 24, 2024, overcome with emotion after his team won the title. Freshman Lukas Bali approaches him. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Nims will be a part of the 2025 squad looking to repeat and win its third title in four years.

To do so, he will focus on his pitching between now and next spring. Nims got a spot start and a few relief appearances this year as a hard-throwing righty, as described by junior starter Christian Roy, in a staff that was six players deep.

Ramstein must rebuild that arm depth with the departures of hurlers such as Liam Delp and Luke Seaburgh to graduation. Nims anticipates him being one candidate to do so.

“I need to work on my pitching in the offseason,” Nims said. “Getting that velo up on the fastball but also coming back maybe with a slider, maybe working on the curveball … having more depth in pitches would be a good start.”