2023 World Baseball Classic: who are the coaches of each national team?
With the 2023 World Baseball Classic upon us, it’s time to take a look at the men who will be working behind the scenes in the hope of leading their teams to glory, the coaches.
In what promises to be an exciting tournament, we’ve not only seen an increase in the number of teams participating, but the inclusion of some serious stars to boot. Needless to say, the coaches of each team will have their hands full as they attempt to clinch baseball’s international crown.
The 2023 WBC coaches and what they face
The field is now set in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and it’s safe to say we know the teams that will be among the favorites. From the talent factory that is the Dominican Republic, to the technical prowess of Japan. We’ve also got Mexico which knows a thing or two about the diamond and so too does Puerto Rico. Last, but definitely not least, we’ve got the perennial powerhouse and reigning champion, United States. Yet, it’s not just about the rosters, is it? Indeed, where would any of the players be without their coaches? In light of the fact that this is the biggest tournament ever, it will most definitely be about tactics and not just talent.
To be clear, twenty nations will compete in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). This of course is an expansion from the 16 that played in the last tournament back in 2017. It’s worth mentioning that all the teams which participated in that tournament were automatically qualified for this year’s edition, with the four additional spots having to qualify. In case you’re wondering each team, consists of a traditional coaching staff - we’ll get to them in a moment - and of course a 30-man roster, which had to be submitted by February 7th, 2023. One point to note, is the fact that WBC regulations require teams to carry a minimum of 14 pitchers and two catchers on their rosters. With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the coaching staff for each team.
Pool A
Chinese Taipei
- Manager: Lin Yueh-ping
- Hitting: Peng Cheng-min and Tseng Hao-jin,
- Pitching: Hsu Ming-chieh
- First base and outfield: Chang Chien-ming
- Third base: Chen Chiang-ho,
- Bench and catching: Kao Chih-kang
- Bullpen: Wang Chien-ming
Cuba
- Manager: Armando Johnson Zaldívar
- Hitting: Orestes Kindelán
- Pitching: Jose Elosegui
- First base: Armando Ferrer
- Third base: Rafael Muñoz
- Bench: Germán Mesa
- Coach: Humberto Guevara
Italy
- Manager: Mike Piazza
- Hitting & Third base: Chris Denorfia
- Bench: Blake Butera,
- Pitching: Michael Borzello
- First base and infield: Jack Santora,
- Bullpen: Jason Simontacchi,
- Outfield: Michele Gerali,
- Coach: Joe Hsu
Netherlands
- Manager: 31 Hensley Meulens
- Hitting: Tjerk Smeets
- Pitching: Bert Blyleven
- First base: Gene Kingsale
- Third base: Ben Thijssen
- Bench: Andruw Jones
- Bullpen: Mike Harkey
- Quality control: Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen
Panama
- Manager: Luis Ortiz
- Bench: Luis Caballero
- Hitting: Victor Preciado
- Pitching: Enrique Burgos & Wilfredo Cordoba
- First base: Cirilo Cumberbatch
- Bullpen Hipólito Ortiz
- Third base: Vicente Garibaldo
- Coach: Julio Mosquera
Pool B
Australia
- Manager: David Nilsson
- Multi purpose coaches: Chris Adamson, Jim Bennett, Will Bradley, Michael Collins, Andrew Graham, Graeme Lloyd, Shayne Watson
Japan
- Manager: Hideki Kuriyama
- Bench: Kazuyuki Shirai
- Hitting: Sadaaki Yoshimura
- First base: Masaji Shimizu
- Pitching: Masato Yoshii
- Bullpen: Kazuyuki Atsuzawa
- Infield: Noriyuki Shiroishi
- Catching: Yoshinori Murata
South Korea
- Manager: Lee Kang-chul
- Hitting: Kim Ki-tai,
- Third base: Kim Min-ho,
- First base: 76 Kim Min-jae
- Catching: Jin Kab-yong
- Pitching 91 Jong Hyun-wook,
- Bullpen: Bae Young-soo,
- Quality control: Shim Jae-hak
China
- Manager: Dean Treanor
- Defensive: Chen Biao
- Hitting and catching: Wang Wei
- Infield: Chen Jiaji
- Third base: Tarrik Brock
- Baserunning: Zhu Xudong
- Outfield: Chen Yanpeng & Du Nan
Czech Republic
- Manager: Pavel Chadim
- Quality control: Joe Truesdale
- Pitching: John Hussey
- Hitting: Alex Derhak
- Third base: David Winkler
- First base: Michael Griffin
- Bullpen: Dusan Randak
- Catching: David Neveril
Pool C
United States
- Manager: Mark DeRosa
- Bench: Jerry Manuel & Brian McCann
- Pitching: Andy Pettitte
- Hitting: Ken Griffey Jr.
- First base: Lou Collier
- Third Base: Dino Ebel
- Bullpen: Dave Righetti
Mexico
- Manager: Benji Gil
- Bench: Vinny Castilla
- Hitting: Jacob Cruz & Bobby Magallanes
- Pitching: Horacio Ramírez
- First base: Gil Velazquez
- Third base: Tony Perezchica
- Bullpen: Elmer Dessens
Colombia
- Manager:: Jolbert Cabrera
- Bench: Jose Mosquera,
- Hitting: Jorge Cortés,
- Pitching: Walter Miranda,
- First base: Ronald Ramirez,
- Third base: Jair Fernandez,
- Assistant: Orlando Cabrera,
- Assistant: Édgar Rentería
Canada
- Manager: Ernie Whitt
- Pitching: Denis Boucher
- Coach: Greg Hamilton
- Third base: Tim Leiper
- Bullpen: Paul Quantrill
- First base: Larry Walker
- Bullpen: Jordan Procyshen
Great Britain
- Manager: Drew Spencer
- First base: Albert Cartwright
- Pitching: Zach Graefser
- Third base: TS Reed
- Bench: Brad Marcelino & Antoan Richardson
- Bullpen: Conor Brooks,
- Associate hitting: Jonathon Cramman
Pool D
Israel
- Manager: Ian Kinsler
- Hitting: Kevin Youkilis
- Bench: Brad Ausmus & Jerry Narron
- Pitching: Josh Zeid
- First base: Tyger Pederson
- Third base: Blake Gailen
- Bullpen: Nate Fish
Nicaragua
- Manager: Sandor Guido
- Bench: Julio Sanchez
- Hitting: Luis Alen
- Pitching: Jorge DePaula & Cairo Murillo
- First base: Jenrry Roa
- Third base: Franklin Lopez
- Batting practice: Yader Roa
Puerto Rico
- Manager: Yadier Molina
- Bench: Alex Cintrón
- Hitting: Victor Rodriguez
- Assistant hitting: Juan González
- Pitching: Ricky Bones
- First base: José Molina
- Third base: Luis Rivera
- Bullpen: José Rosado
Venezuela
- Manager: Omar López
- Pitching: Iván Arteaga
- Third base: Ramón Borrego
- Hitting: Rodolfo Hernández
- Bench: Carlos Mendoza
- First base: Rouglas Odor
- Bullpen: Luis Ramírez
- Assistant hitting: Wilfredo Romero
Dominican Republic
- Manager: Rodney Linares
- Bench: Tony Diaz
- Hitting: Luis Ortiz
- Assistant hitting: Frank Valdez
- Pitching: Wellington Cepeda
- Assistant pitching: José Canó,
- First base: Julio Borbón,
- Third base: Ramón Santiago