By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Federacion Venezolana de Beisbol announced their roster for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile on Friday.
Venezuela has not participated in the Pan American Games since the 2011 tournament in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, where they went 1-2 in Group play, with their only win coming against Puerto Rico.
The coaching staff for Venezuela is built with coaches from the Liga Mayor de Beisbol Profesional and the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional winter league along with several coaches with Major League Baseball coaching experience.
Carlos Garcia will be the manager for Venezuela during the 2023 Pan American Games.
Venezuela will carry all players from their Liga Mayor de Beisbol Profesional, current professional free agents with experience playing in independent leagues in the United States and in the low minors with Major League Baseball organizations.
Venezuela qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games by winning bronze in July at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, beating the Dominican Republic 10-9 to achieve third place.
Venezuela has only medaled twice in the history of their nation at the Pan American Games winning the gold medal in 1959 in Chicago and winning the bronze medal in 1955 in Mexico City.
The Pan American Games will have a total of eight nations in the baseball event, including No. 3 Mexico, No. 6 Venezuela, No. 8 Cuba, No. 10 Dominican Republic, No. 11 Panama, No. 16 Colombia, and host nation Chile, which is not ranked in the World Baseball Rankings. Chile has not been ranked in two consecutive World Baseball Ranking cycles, including the rankings released on December 31, 2022 and March 28, 2023, after the World Baseball Classic.
The last time the World Baseball rankings were updated was on August 15.
The baseball portion of the 2023 Pan American Games will be from October 18-28 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.
Venezuela has not participated in the Pan American Games since the 2011 tournament in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, where they went 1-2 in Group with their only win coming against Puerto Rico.
Brazil will be in Group B during the 2023 Pan American Games tournament with Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia.
Group A will have Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and host nation Chile.
Venezuela has the highest World Baseball Ranking in Group B after winning the bronze medal at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Cuba all qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games by their performance at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games this summer in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Panama qualified for the Pan American Qualifiers in June in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when they beat host nation Argentina in the final game 9-3.
Colombia qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games in December 2021 at the Junior Pan American Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, beating the Dominican Republic in the gold medal game 6-3.
The last Pan American Games was held in 2019 in Lima, Peru when Puerto Rico beat Canada in the gold medal game 6-1.
The 2023 Pan American Games will be the last senior event of the international baseball calendar year from the WBSC Americas sector prior to the rankings being released on December 31, 2023.
All listed streaming updates of the 2023 Pan American Games will be provided on the WBSC Americas social media pages and website.
2023 Pan American Games Venezuela Pool Round Schedule
All times are listed Eastern Daylight Time
Thursday October 19, 2023
2 p.m. EDT – Venezuela vs. Brazil
Sunday October 22, 2023
2 p.m. EDT – Cuba vs. Venezuela
Tuesday October 24, 2023
2 p.m. EDT – Colombia vs. Venezuela
2023 Venezuela Pan American Games Roster
*CFA-Current Free Agent
Catchers (Team)
Juan Carlos Torres (Delfines de La Guaira)
Alex Monsalve (Samanes de Aragua)
Infielders (Team)
Rayder Ascanio (Samanes de Aragua)
Daniel Castillo (Líderes de Miranda)
Edgar Durán (Marineros de Carabobo)
Edgardo Fermín (Líderes de Miranda)
Bryan Flete (Guerreros de Lara)
Osman Marval (Marineros de Carabobo)
Yonathan Mendoza (Samanes de Aragua)
Engelb Vielma (Marineros de Carabobo)
Outfielders (Team)
Omar Carrizales (Samanes de Aragua)
Eduardo Díaz (Samanes de Aragua)
Juan Infante (Marineros de Carabobo)
Pitchers (Team)
Henderson Álvarez (Marineros de Carabobo)
Vicente Campos (Samanes de Aragua)
Eduardo Figueroa (Marineros de Carabobo)
José Guzmán (Samanes de Aragua)
Luis Pacheco (Centauros de La Guaira)
Wikelman Ramírez (Marineros de Carabobo)
Nivaldo Rodríguez (CFA)
Wuilder Rodríguez (CFA)
Brayan Salaya (CFA)
Andrés Sotillet (Marineros de Carabobo)
Sergio Vélis (Marineros de Carabobo)
2023 Venezuela Pan American Games Coaching Staff
Carlos Garcia – Manager
Clemente Alvarez – Bench Coach
Jesus Alvarez – First Base Coach
Jose Villa – Third Base Coach