Miami, USA. The Nicaraguan Baseball Federation has confirmed a piece of big news: Dusty Baker, a baseball legend, will be the new manager of the Nicaraguan national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Dusty Baker: An Icon in the Nicaraguan Dugout
At 76 years old, Baker is recognized as one of the most respected leaders in the history of Major League Baseball. With more than 2,000 career wins, he ranks as the eighth-winningest manager of all time, being one of the 13 who have reached this mark.
Three-time Manager of the Year award winner, Baker has led five different teams – San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and Houston Astros – to divisional titles during his 26 seasons.
Baker retired at the end of the 2023 season.
The arrival of Dusty Baker at the helm of the Central American team represents a significant step forward for a team that will seek to improve its performance in the next edition of the tournament, where it finished in 19th place in the previous edition. Nicaragua secured its place in the 2026 Classic after an undefeated participation in the qualifying tournament, with a record of 3-0.
In the next championship, Nicaragua will compete in Group D, along with Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, and Israel. This phase will be held from March 6 to 11, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, home of the Marlins.
The two best teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the leaders of Group C.
