Dusty Baker to manage Nicaragua at 2026 World Baseball Classic

Former MLB manager Dusty Baker is reportedly set to manage Nicaragua during the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Baker, 76, retired from the major leagues two years ago after winning a World Series with the Houston Astros in 2022 and being named National League Manager of the Year three times. Baker is the eighth-winningest manager in major league history.

Dusty Baker also played in the majors for 19 seasons.

Dusty Baker will manage Team Nicaragua in the 2026 #WorldBaseballClassic! pic.twitter.com/CZGgckKX1Z

— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2025

More on Dusty Baker & the World Baseball Classic

“I’m excited,” Dusty Baker told USA Today, “… I know baseball is trying to get going in Nicaragua, and I want to help.”

Nicaragua finished 19th in the 2023 WBC but secured a 3-0 record in qualifying for the 2026 tournament and will play in Pool D against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic.

–Field Level Media

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Andrew McCutchen broke a tie with a home run, the Pittsburgh bullpen threw seven innings of two-run ball and the Pirates ran their winning streak to three in a row with a 6-5 road triumph over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

Nick Gonzales also homered for the Pirates before Genesis Cabrera, Yohan Ramirez, Isaac Mattson, Dennis Santana and David Bednar picked up for an ineffective Mitch Keller, sending the Giants to their fourth straight home defeat.

After an early explosion produced a 4-3 Pirates lead after two innings, San Francisco tied the game in the fourth on a one-out double by Heliot Ramos and a two-out RBI single by Willy Adames.

That run was charged to Cabrera. Ramirez (1-0) got out of the inning without further damage, then teamed with Mattson and Santana to shut out the Giants until the ninth.

Along the way, McCutchen produced the eventual difference-making run with his two-run shot to left field off Giants reliever Carson Seymour (0-1). The veteran’s 10th homer of the season followed an inning-opening walk drawn by Tommy Pham.

The homer was the 329th of McCutchen’s career, breaking a tie with Shawn Green and Mo Vaughn for 125th on the all-time list.

Read more below:

Andrew McCutchen’s late homer helps Pirates edge Giants

When is the next San Francisco Giants game?

• Monday, July 28th – Wednesday, July 30th – vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• Friday, August 3rd – Sunday, August 5th – @ New York Mets
• Monday, August 6th – Wednesday, August 8th – @ Pittsburgh Pirates
• Friday, August 8th – Sunday, August 10th – vs. Washington Nationals
• Monday, August 11th – Wednesday, August 13th – vs. San Diego Padres

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