The Washington Nationals and New York Mets are meeting for a three-game series in the nation’s capital, and history is being made in the dugouts. Nationals skipper Miguel Cairo and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza have become the first Venezuelan-born managers to oppose each other in Major League Baseball history.
The opener features left-hander David Peterson for the Mets (66-58) against right-hander Jake Irvin of the Nationals (50-74). Beyond the standings and pitching matchups, this series carries a milestone moment for Venezuelan baseball.
¡HISTORIA PURA EN LA MLB! 🇻🇪
¡Hoy se hará historia en el béisbol! Por primera vez en la historia de las Grandes Ligas, dos mánagers venezolanos se enfrentarán en un juego oficial.
En Washington, el mánager de los Mets, Carlos Mendoza, se medirá al mánager de los Nacionales,… pic.twitter.com/WdYrHwWaUu
— BeisbolPlay (@beisbolplaycom) August 19, 2025
Mendoza, 45, from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, is in his second year managing the Mets after guiding them to the 2024 National League Championship Series. Before coming to Flushing, he spent six seasons on the New York Yankees’ coaching staff and played more than a decade professionally, including time in the minors, independent ball, and Triple-A.
Cairo, 51, from Anaco, Venezuela, enjoyed a 17-year Major League playing career with nine different clubs. He first managed in 2022 as acting skipper of the Chicago White Sox and was named interim manager of Washington last month after the Nationals parted ways with Dave Martinez. Cairo quickly earned his first win against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 9.
This matchup adds to the legacy of Latino-born managers in Major League Baseball. Venezuela joins Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba as nations whose leaders have guided clubs on the biggest stage.
MLB Latino-Born Managers
^Denotes winning both a Caribbean Series and a World Series
Venezuela
Carlos Mendoza, Ozzie Guillén^, Miguel Cairo, Al Pedrique
Puerto Rico
Sandy Alomar, Alex Cora, Joe Espada, Charlie Montoyo, Edwin Rodríguez
Dominican Republic
Manny Acta, Felipe Alou, Tony Peña, Luis Pujols, Luis Rojas, Juan Samuel
Cuba
Bernardo Baró*, Pelayo Chacón*, Martín Dihigo*, Reinaldo Drake*, José María Fernández*, Preston Gómez, Fredi González, Mike González*, Marty Martínez, José Méndez*, Tony Pérez, Ramiro Ramírez*, Cookie Rojas, Carlos Tosca
