Houston Astros first base coach Omar Lopez to manage Venezuela in 2023 World Baseball Classic

Houston Astros first base coach Omar Lopez to manage Venezuela in 2023 World Baseball Classic
17/08/2022
Venezuela, a traditional baseball powerhouse, is currently sixth in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings -- their highest finish in the World Baseball Classic is third place (2009).

The Venezuelan Baseball Federation (FEVEBEISBOL) announced during a press conference at the headquarters of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee that Omar Lopez will manage the Venezuelan National Team in the World Baseball Classic 2023.

Lopez, 45, is the first base coach of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He will manage the Caribes de Anzoátegui of the Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP) in the 2022-23 season. He led them to three pennants in a five-season tenure that ended with the 2018-2019 campaign.

Born in Valencia, Carabobo, Lopez played Minor League Baseball (MiLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox.

He joined the Astros as a scout in 1999 and worked in that role until 2007. He then started coaching at the minor league level, and he got his first job as a manager in 2009 at the Rookie League level.

After managing the Astros' Double-A affiliate in 2018 and 2019, he was promoted to the MLB coaching staff in 2020.

Venezuela, a traditional baseball powerhouse, is currently sixth in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.