With the The World Baseball Classic loomssome of the hottest names in sport will be on the diamond for two weeks representing their countries.
In doing so, some of the most notable names from the league’s past will coach the players they once called their peers. While Mark DeRosa returns to the bench of the American team, the reigning champion of Japan will replace Hideki Kuriyama with Hirokazu Ibata. The Dominican Republic will be led by the legendary Albert Pujols, while Yadier Molina will reprise his role with Puerto Rico.
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It’s not just about managers. There are many notable names among the coaches, including Miguel Cabrera as Venezuela’s hitting coach, Andy Pettitte as Team USA’s pitching coach, Matt Holliday as Team USA’s hitting coach, and Edgar Martinez as Puerto Rico’s hitting coach, among others.
Both Molina and Cabrera are on the MLB teams they finished their careers with in spring training as special assistants, while Pujols managed in the Dominican Republic. He will spend his first season with the Estrellas Orientales after coaching the Leones de Escogido.
World Baseball Classic Managers
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Dominican Republic: Albert Pujols
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Puerto Rico: Yadier Molina
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The Netherlands: Andrew Jones
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Chinese Taipei: Hao-jiu Tseng
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Great Britain: Bradley Marcelino
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Italy: Francisco Cervelli
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World Baseball Classic managers to know
Mark DeRosa, United States
Managing his second consecutive World Baseball Classic for the United States, Mark DeRosa leads a team that boasts far bigger names than the 2023 Team USA runner-up squad.
DeRosa enlisted pitchers Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes to anchor his pitching staff, albeit in a limited capacity, a far cry from the 2023 iteration where Merrill Kelly and Kyle Freeland were at the wheel. DeRosa, who played for eight MLB teams from 1998 to 2013, also has some big names on the bench. Brian McCann is assistant coach, Andy Pettitte is pitching coach, Matt Holliday will be the hitting coach and David Ross is the bullpen coach. Michael Young is DeRosa’s bench coach.
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Hirokazu Ibata, Japan
Hirokazu Ibata for Japan replaces Hideki Kuriyama. Ibata’s NPB career spanned from 1998 to 2015, with his first 15 seasons with the Chunichi Dragons and his last two with the Yomiuri Giants.
Ibata was part of the Japan team that finished third at the 2013 World Baseball Classic in the twilight of his NPB career, going 10 for 18 at the plate, including a game-tying single in the ninth inning against Chinese Taipei. Ibata has a glut of talent to work with. Although Shohei Ohtani will not present, his team will include Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hiromi Itoh and Koki Kitayama. MLB standbys Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto will also represent Japan.
Albert Pujols, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic should be on everyone’s radar as a potential winner of this tournament. With players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez and Juan Soto, Platano Power is alive and well despite a disappointing performance in 2023.
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Albert Pujols will lead the team for the first time as he continues his coaching career. Pujols, who is one of four players to hit 700 home runs in MLB, went into management. He won the Serie final with Leones de Escogido and now begins his first season with Estrellas Orientales. Pujols was apparently courted by the Angels during their last interview, but they ultimately hired Kurt Suzuki.
Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico
Another name that MLB fans, and especially Cardinals fans, will recognize, Yadier Molina will reprise his role as Puerto Rico’s manager after also coaching them in the 2023 WBC.
Known as one of the most notable players in MLB history, Molina serves as special assistant to President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom with the Cardinals. After a brief stint in Venezuela in 2022, Molina took Puerto Rico out of a brutal 2023 group that included Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He won Coach of the Year on his return to Navegantes del Magallanes, leading them to the championship.
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Andruw Jones, Netherlands
One of the newest inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after participating in his ninth round of voting, Andruw Jones will be on the Dutch bench.
Jones represented the Netherlands in 2006 and 2013, having been born in Curacao. Notable players on his roster include Kenley Jansen, Ozzie Albies, Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jurickson Profar.
Omar López, Venezuela
Astros fans should know Omar Lopez extremely well.
One of the most experienced coaches in the World Baseball Classic, Lopez has been with the Astros organization since 1999 and has been their bench coach since 2024. He has Miguel Cabrera as his hitting coach and Johan Santana as his pitching coach, as well as Victor Martinez as his assistant.
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Venezuela’s roster is also loaded, with Eduardo Rodriguez, Ranger Suarez, Wilyer Abreu, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Eugenio Suarez all in the fold.
Ian Kinsler, Israel
Ian Kinsler is another familiar face in MLB, and he will be on the Israeli bench.
Kinsler, who received his Israeli citizenship in 2020, was part of the U.S. team that won gold in 2017. He led Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, coming out after the pools with a 1-3 record.
Dusty Baker, Nicaragua
One more lap before setting off on the Dusty trail.
Dusty Baker will lead Nicaragua for what he calls his “last hurray”, and recognizes that it will be difficult for him to reach the quarter-finals.
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Baker, one of the most accomplished managers in MLB history, is looking to go out with a bang in a pool that includes the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands and Israel. It’s far from it, but as Baker himself said, it could be “fun.”
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina lead World Baseball Classic managers
