By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Federacion Nicaraguense De Beisbol Asociada announced the official roster for the San Salvador 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games on Wednesday.
The baseball tournament at the Central American and Caribbean games will be played at Parque De Pelota Saturnino Bengoa from June 24 to July 1. Nicaragua’s first game will be against No. 10-ranked Dominican Republic on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. All games during the baseball event of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games will be streamed on the Beisbol Americas WBSC YouTube page and the Gametime.sport website.
The other six counties participating in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games are world No. 7 Cuba, No. 11 Puerto Rico, No. 3 Mexico, the host nation, 59th ranked El Salvador, No. 32 Curacao, and No. 6 Venezuela.
Nicaragua is ranked 17th in the World Baseball Rankings and has not medaled at the Central American and Caribbean games since 2014, when they lost to Cuba in the gold medal game at Beto Avila Stadium in Veracruz, Mexico.
During the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, Nicaragua placed fifth, posting a 3-4 record in a tournament that had all the top Caribbean baseball countries participating.
Nicaragua made their first appearance in the World Baseball Classic in March, going winless in Pool D, facing the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Israel at loanDepot Park in Miami. Nicaragua was outclassed by teams with rosters filled with Major League Baseball talent, and they’ll have to qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Sandor Guido will be the manager for Nicaragua national team once again, and will have a similar roster to the one he managed at the World Baseball Classic. Along with players currently in the Campeonato German Pomares Ordonez league run by the Comision Nicaraguense de Beisbol, professional independent leagues in the United States and Canada, and players from the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional winter league.
In the 2019 Pan American games held in Lima, Peru, Nicaragua took home the bronze medal, beating Colombia 6-0. It was the last time the nation placed high in a WBSC senior event.
The top three nations that finish in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games will qualify for the 2023 Pan American Games.
The baseball portion of the 2023 Pan American Games will be from October 21-27 at the Baseball and Softball Center in Cerrillos, Chile. Three nations have already qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games: Chile, as the host nation; Colombia, for placing first in the 2021 Junior Pan American Games; and Brazil, for placing first in the 2022 South American Championships.
Nicaragua 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Roster
Pitchers (Team)
Leonardo Crawford (Dantos)
Fidencio Flores (Leon)
Danilo Bermudez (Rivas)
Ernesto Glasgon (Caribe Norte)
Keny Cruz (Granada)
Oliver Espinoza (Masaya)
Jorge Bucardo (Dantos)
Bryan Torres (Leon)
Jesus Garrido (Chinandega)
Osman Gutierrez (Trois-Rivieres)
Junior Tellez (Leon)
Catchers (Team)
Rodolfo Bone (Masaya)
Melvin Novoa (Granada)
Infielders (Team)
Benjamin Alegria (Dantos)
Jose S. Orozco (Matagalpa)
Elian Miranda (Chinandega)
Aldo Espinoza (Dantos)
Edgard Montiel (Boer)
Jacksell Mairena (Esteli)
Outfielders (Team)
Sandy Bermudez (Chontales)
Norlando Valle (Leon)
Bismarck Rivera (Boer)
JD Montes (Tri-City ValleyCats)
Gean Rigby (Caribe Sur)
2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Coaching Staff
Sandor Guido – Manager
Julio Sanchez – Bench Coach
Marvin Benard – Hitting Coach
Cairo Murillo – Pitching Coach
Antenor Lopez – Third Base Coach
Adolfo Matamoros – First Base Coach