Former Astros Manager Dusty Baker Plans Nicaragua Role 2026 World Baseball Classic

Dusty Baker, the celebrated MLB manager who led the Houston Astros to their 2022 World Series championship, is coming out of retirement to manage the Nicaragua national baseball team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. After retiring from the Astros following the 2023 season and serving as a special advisor for the San Francisco Giants, Baker accepted the role to help improve Nicaragua's performance in the tournament, where they will compete in Pool D alongside Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, and Israel. At 76, Baker brings a wealth of experience, including 2,183 managerial wins—the most by an African American manager—and leading five different MLB franchises to division titles. He views this role as an opportunity to inspire a developing baseball nation and to enjoy the camaraderie of the game in an international setting, describing it as a refreshing sprint compared to the regular MLB season. Nicaragua, ranked 16th by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, hopes Baker’s leadership will help them advance beyond their winless debut in the 2023 Classic. The tournament will be held in March 2026, with Baker's involvement marking his first managerial role since retiring from MLB.