After leading Mexico at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Benjamin Gil will manage the National Team at the World Baseball Classic 2023.
The 50-year-old Gil is a Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB) coach. He has served under managers Joe Maddon and Phil Nevin.
He managed Mariachis de Guadalajara's expansion team in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB) in 2021, earning Manager of the Year honours. He led the National Team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where Mexico finished sixth.
He led the Tomateros de Culiacan to four Pacific Mexican League (LMP) championships.
As a player, Gil participated in the World Baseball Classic 2006. He played eight MLB seasons as a utility infielder and was on the 2002 World Series-winning Los Angeles Angels roster.
"Benji Gil is a winner," commented the National Team general manager Rodrigo Lopez, who was a starting pitcher for Mexico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. "As a player, he is on the restricted list of World Series winners; as a manager, he showed leadership, attitude and passion. He is fluent in English and Spanish and knows the Mexican Leagues as well as the Big Leagues."
World No. 4 Mexico will compete in Group C of the World Baseball Classic and will face world No. 5 and host Nation USA, No. 11 Colombia, No. 12 Canada and No. 23 Great Britain at Chase Field in Phoenix from 11 to 15 March 2023.
