The Dominican Republic has announced their coaching staff for the WBSC Premier12 Tournament. They were ranked 12 in the 2019 WBSC Premier12 and are now ranked ninth for the 2024 tournament. Here is who will be coaching this November.
Cesar Martin will manage the Dominican team this November. The 45-year-old is currently the manager of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Toronto Blue Jays Organization. This is Martin’s ninth season as a manager within the Blue Jays organization, making his managerial debut in 2015 with the GCL Blue Jays.
Former MLB veteran Ervin Santana, 41, will serve as pitching coach. Santana, who pitched for the Angels, Royals, Braves, Twins, and White Sox from 2005 to 2021, has never held a position as a coach before. During his MLB career, Santana had 151 wins and a 4.11 ERA.
Another two MLB veterans joining the coaching staff will be former backstop Ronny Paulino as the hitting coach and Ramon Santiago as the third-base coach. Paulino currently serves as the bench coach for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Ramon Santiago formerly served as a first/third-base coach for the Detroit Tigers from 2018-22.
Also, former MLB veteran joining the Dominican Republic is Wellington Castillo as first-base coach. The veteran catcher made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2010, where he would go on to play with the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Orioles, and White Sox before hanging up the spikes in 2019. This will be his first stint on a coaching staff.
Rounding out the staff for the Dominican Republic will be Assistant Manager Ramon Martinez, bench coach Danny Solano, and bullpen coach Jose Cano. Martinez is the brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez. Ramon pitched with the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Pirates from 1988-2001. Jose Cano is the father of Robinson Cano. Jose pitched with the Houston Astros in 1989 before heading to the CPBL, where he spent five seasons with the Uni-President Lions and Wei Chuan Dragons.
The WBSC Premier12 Tournament begins on November 9 and runs until November 24. Information regarding ticket information can be found here: https://www.wbsc.org/en/2024-premier12-ticketing
Photo Credit: Dominican Republic’s players and coaches gather to celebrate their victory during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball bronze medal game between Dominican Republic and South Korea at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on August 7, 2021. (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA/AFP via Getty Images)
