COOPERSTOWN, NY — Dusty Baker, the future Hall of Fame manager who retired two years ago, is returning back to the dugout to manage Nicaragua in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he told USA TODAY Sports.
‘I’m excited,’ said Baker, a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, who played 19 years and managed 26 years in Major League Baseball. ‘When they asked me, I thought about Roberto Clemente going there to help the country. I thought about Marcus Garvey. I know baseball is trying to get going in Nicaragua, and I want to help.’
Baker, who was approached about managing the U.S. team in 2023, said he didn’t want to leave the Houston Astros after winning the 2022 World Series. Now that he’s retired as MLB manager – working as a special advisor for the San Franciso Giants – he feels the time is right.
‘I considered managing in the WBC back then, but I just couldn’t leave my team,’ Baker said. “I didn’t think it was right to leave my team for two weeks in spring training. I was trying to win two World Series in a row.
‘So, now, the timing works great.’
Baker was contacted in December by Nicaragua general manager George Santiago and former Nicaragua manager Marvin Bernard. He consulted with his wife, Melissa, and son, Darren, who plays in the Washington Nationals organization, before accepting the position.
“It should be cool,” said Baker, the only manager in MLB history to lead five different franchises to division titles. “I know it will be a great life experience. I hope I can add to theirs, and they can add to mine.
“I’ve never been a part of the WBC, but everyone seems to enjoy it. I will as well. But let’s make it clear. I’m here to win.’
Baker, 76, is expected to be formally introduced as manager at a press conference in Nicaragua in August. He plans to include several of his former coaches, including Gary Pettis, Jacque Jones and Dan Firova. He also will have Bernard and Randall Simon on his staff. Benard, who will be the bench coach, is the sixth Nicaraguan-born player to reach the Major Leagues, and only the second position player.
Despite Baker returning to manage Nicaragua, he has no interest in coming out of retirement as a major league manager. Baker, who has won the seventh-most games in baseball history (2,183), is eligible to be on the Hall of Fame’s contemporary era ballot in December 2026, with the induction ceremony in July, 2027.
“I miss the camaraderie and the game,’’ Baker said, “but I don’t miss the verbal dodgeball twice a day. I don’t miss the travel and bickering between old school and new school and sabermetrics against experience.
“Besides, I don’t have to train for a long-distance race managing in the WBC. This will be a sprint. I can handle that. Now, I just have to brush up on my Spanish.’
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