The Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) has officially announced all the managers for its eight teams for the 2024-2025 season. The Tigres de Aragua was the final team to announce their next season’s manager. The Tigres announced the return of Welby “Buddy” Bailey.
Bailey’s career in coaching began in 1983 in the minor league system for the Atlanta Braves. In addition to Atlanta, he has managed in the minor league systems for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. This upcoming season will be Bailey’s 16th as the manager of the Tigres. Bailey is the only manager in the LVBP with at least 500 victories. His total between Venezuela over his career is 2,970 in 35 seasons.
Another notable manager recently announced was Morgan Ensberg, who will be the headman of the Caribes de Anzoátegui. Ensberg is currently the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A team. He began his coaching career with the Houston Astros Class A team as a developmental specialist in 2013. Ensberg spent eight seasons in the MLB with a lifetime batting average of .263.
The Tiburones de La Guaira confirmed that Ozzie Guillen, a long-time MLB skipper and manager for the Tiburones in recent seasons, will return in 2024. Guillen was the manager for the Tiburones last season, where he led the team to the LVBP title and coached them in the 2024 Caribbean Series. He also managed the team for a season in 2016. Before his time in Venezuela, Guillen coached with the White Sox and Marlins. He led the White Sox to a World Series title in 2005, the club’s first since 1917.
Photo Credit: Ozzie Guillen manager of Tiburones de la Guaira of Venezuela walks to the dugout in the third inning. (Photo by Luis Gutierrez/Norte Photo/Getty Images)
