The WBSC Premier12 is set to begin in a month, and Venezuela has announced their coaching staff for this November. Omar Lopez will be the manager for Venezuela’s WBSC Premier12 team.
Lopez, 47, also managed Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic in 2023, leading them to a perfect 4-0 in Pool D. They were eliminated by the United States in the quarterfinals 9-7. Currently, Lopez is the bench coach for the Houston Astros, a position he started in Dec. of 2023. Prior to serving as a bench coach, Lopez served as a first-base coach for the Astros after being promoted from the minor league ranks in 2020.
Robinson Chirinos will be getting his first gig at coaching, as he will serve as Venezuela’s bench coach. The 40-year-old played in 11 big league seasons with the Rays, Rangers, Astros, Mets, Cubs and Orioles. For his career, Chirinos hit .226, hitting 95 home runs, 306 RBI’s in 714 games played. This will be Chirinos’ first time coaching since he announced his retirement from baseball in 2023.
Serving as the hitting coach for Venezuela is Wilfredo Romero. Romero served as an assistant hitting coach at the 2023 World Baseball Classic for Venezuela. Prior to coaching, Romero played baseball from 1993-2012, but never reached the MLB. This season, Romero managed the Tri-City Dust Devils, the High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, and served as manager for the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico during the 2023-24 season.
Former outfielder Gerardo Parra will be the teams first-base coach. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner played in 12 seasons in the MLB with the Diamondbacks, Brewers, Orioles, Rockies, Giants and Nationals organizations. Parra hit for a career .275 average, 90 home runs, 532 RBI’s, 90 stolen bases in 1,519 games played. Parra was named the first-base coach of the Washington Nationals prior to the 2024 season.
Also joining Venezuela’s coaching staff will be Nestor Corredor as third-base coach, Luis Ramirez as the pitching coach, and Jorge Cordova as the bullpen coach. Venezuela’s first game in the Premier12 Tournament is set for Nov. 9, where they will face off against Mexico. The game will take place at Estadio Panamericano in Guadalajara, Mexico at 9:00 p.m. EST.
___
WBN Premier12: https://worldbaseball.com/tag/2024-premier-12/
Manager Omar Lopez #22 of Venezuela takes the baseball from pitcher Carlos Hernandez #43 during a pitching change in the seventh inning during a 2023 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinal game against the United States at loanDepot park on March 18, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
