Federacion Nicaraguense De Beisbol Asociada (FENIBA) announced their roster for the Central American Qualifier, which will take place from February 6-12 at Estadio Nacional Soberania in Managua.
Five nations will participate in the Central American Qualifier, as Panama backed out of the event of few weeks ago. Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador are the other countries participating for the tournament, with a chance to go to the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador in June and early July.
Nicaragua’s roster for the Central American Qualifiers event will consists of players that are in the high minor leagues with MLB organizations, MLB partnered independent leagues, and players from this past winter league season.
The 2023 Central American and Caribbean games will have the baseball event from June 25 to July 1 at Saturnino Bengoa National Ballpark, located in the Avenida La Quebrada section of San Salvador.
Manager Sandor Guido will evaluate his players with an eye on building the World Baseball Classic roster during the Central American Qualifier.
Nicaragua’s key players such as Melvin Novoa, Cheslor Cuthbert, and Elmer Reyes will get a lot at-bats during the tournament before heading to Miami to start the World Baseball Classic, with their first day of workouts in South Florida at the Jackie Robinson Complex in Vero Beach on March 7.
Nicaragua will play their exhibition games on Wednesday, March 8 against the New York Mets at 6:10 p.m. EST in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and Thursday, March 9, against the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla. at 1:05 p.m. EST before starting Pool D of the World Baseball Classic at Loan Depot Park.
Nicaragua’s first game of the World Baseball Classic is against Puerto Rico on March 11 at noon EST. Pool D play, which will run from March 11-15, will also have the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Israel, who all of whom will carry top minor league players and Major Leaguers.
2023 Central American Qualifier Nicaragua Schedule
All Games 6:30 p.m. Local Start Time
Monday, February 6 – vs. Honduras
Tuesday, February 7 – vs. Costa Rica
Thursday, February 9 – vs. El Salvador
Friday, February 10 – vs. Guatemala
Final Round, February 12
1 p.m. – Fourth Place vs. Third Place
6:30 p.m. – Second Place vs. First Place
Nicaragua Central American Qualifiers Roster
Pitchers (LBPN Team)
Ronald Medrano (Gigantes De Rivas)
Leonardo Crawford (Gigantes De Rivas)
Carlos Teller (Gigantes De Rivas)
Osman Gutierrez (Gigantes De Rivas)
Goffrey Bennett (Leones De Leon)
Duque Hebert (Leones De Leon)
Junior Tellez (Leones De Leon)
Fidencio Flores (Gigantes De Rivas)
Kevin Gadea (Leones De Leon)
Joaquin Acuna (Leones De Leon)
Roniel Raudes (Tren del Norte)
Infielders (LPBN Team)
Cheslor Cuthbert (Gigantes De Rivas)
Benjamin Alegria (Leones De Leon)
Elmer Reyes (Gigantes De Rivas)
Ivan Marin (Gigantes De Rivas)
Wullians Vasquez (Tigres De Chinandega)
Elian Miranda (Tren del Norte)
Outfielders (LPBN Team)
Isaac Benard (Gigantes De Rivas)
Dwight Britton (Leones De Leon)
Sandy Bermudez (Tren del Norte)
Juan Montes (Tren del Norte)
Norlando Valle (Tigres De Chinandega)
Catchers (LPBN Team)
Melvin Novoa (Indios del Boer)
Wiston Davila (Leones De Leon)
Coaching Staff
Manager – Sandor Guido
Bench Coach – Julio Sanchez
Pitching Coach – Jorge De Paula
Hitting Coach – Henry Roa
First Base Coach – Franklin Lopez
Third Base Coach – Yader Roa
Bullpen Coach – Cairo Murillo