Houston Astros’ Coaches Martinez, Perez managing opposite numbers in WBC Qualifiers - MLB News
Houston Astros have recently added Dennis Martinez and Eduardo Perez to manager Bo Porter’s coaching staff. Before the two start their respective bullpen and bench coaching duties, they will be managing opposite number in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers
in Panama City, Panama.
Martinez is currently managing the national team of Nicaragua, his native country. Perez has managerial responsibilities for the Colombian team. Panama and Brazil are the other teams in the qualifying event. Another qualifying event for the World Baseball
Classic will be taking place in Taiwan which will be participated by Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand.
The teams include a number of Major League players. Texas Rangers’ catcher Luis Martinez, Miami Marlins’ second baseman Donovan Solano and free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria will be representing the Columbian team. For the Nicaraguan team, San Diego Padres’
shortstop Everth Cabrera, Phillies’ pitcher J.C. Ramirez and Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Erasmo Ramirez will be playing.
A total of 13 current and former Major League players are participating in the Panama qualifiers. All four teams are being managed by former Major League players. Some Major League players are also participating in the qualifiers taking place in Taiwan.
Eduardo recently has been associated with the Miami Marlins as a hitting coach. He was also associated with the front office for the organisation. The 43-year-old, who also took a role of an analyst for ESPN, had 13 Major League seasons with six different
ball clubs as a player.
He has been a successful manager in Latin America. Eduardo won the Manager of the Year award in 2008 and guided his Puerto Rican team, the Ponce Lions to victory in Caribbean Series of 2009.
Dennis was the pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals for six seasons before joining the Astros. The 57-year-old had an astonishing 23-year career in the Major Leagues, starting in 1976 with the Baltimore Orioles and coming to an end in 1998 with the
Atlanta Braves.
The four-time All-Star is the first player from Nicaragua to play in Major League Baseball. His 245 career wins in the MLB are most by any Latin American pitcher.
The Nicaragua team leads the pack with a 14th spot in the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Rankings. They have hosted the World Cup on five occasions and have made it to the final the same number of times without bagging an event.
Colombians have a rich baseball history as well and are currently placed 19th in the IBAF Rankings. The country has won the World Championship twice in 1947 and 1965. Several Columbian players have played in the Major League but none has enjoyed
more success than the two-time World Series MVP Renteria.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of the qualifying event. It is great to see these players and coaches in action outside the Major League and their presence will surely spice up the competition.
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