By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Federacion de Beisbol de Puerto Rico, FBPR, announced their coaching staff for the 2023 World Baseball Classic Thursday.
Puerto Rico Federation president Jose Quiles and general manager Joey Sola appointed manager Yadier Molina, bench coach Alex Cintron, pitching coach Ricky Bones, bullpen coach Jose “Cheo” Rosado, hitting coach Victor Rodriguez, assistant hitting coach Juan “Igor” Gonzalez, third base coach Luis “Papa” Rivera and first base coach Jose Molina to the coaching staff for Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has appeared in back-to-back finals of the World Baseball Classic, losing to the Dominican Republic in 2013 and the United States in 2017.
Notable names such as Carlos Correa, Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor have committed to suit up for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico will need great pitching this time around, playing in Pool D against Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Israel, all of whom have rosters featuring Major Leaguers and high minor league players. Closer Edwin “Sugar” Diaz, starting pitcher Jose Berrio, and Marcus Stroman, who kept Puerto Rico from the gold pitching for the United States at the World Baseball Classic, will have big shoes to fill for the pitching staff.
Puerto Rico will open up against Nicaragua in their first game of the World Baseball Classic in Miami at Loan Depot Park on March 11 at noon EST on Fox Sports 2.