Dusty Baker may have stepped away from the Major League spotlight, but don’t mistake that for slowing down. The legendary manager, a three-time National League Manager of the Year during his San Francisco Giants tenure, is back in the dugout – this time on an international stage. Baker is leading the Nicaraguan national team into the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking his first managing role since retiring after the 2023 season.
On Monday, Baker ran his first training session with Team Nicaragua, kicking off preparations for a tournament that runs from March 4 to 17. It’s a new chapter for a man whose managerial career already spans three decades and five MLB franchises – San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and most recently, the Houston Astros, where his final season ended with a hard-fought ALCS loss to the eventual champion Texas Rangers.
Even in retirement, Baker hasn’t strayed too far from the game. He remains a special adviser with the Giants, but as he put it in a recent interview, he didn’t want to “sit around, do nothing.” This opportunity gives him a new dugout, a new team, and a fresh challenge – and, in his words, “You get to stay young.”
So how did one of the most respected figures in MLB history end up managing Nicaragua? It started with a conversation that was half-serious, half-joke.
Norchad Omier, a Nicaraguan basketball player, floated Baker’s name to Marvin Benard – a fellow Nicaraguan and former Giants outfielder who played nearly his entire career under Baker. The idea snowballed from there.
The two met with Baker over dinner around the time of the 2025 NBA Draft, and by July, it wasn’t just talk – it was official.
Baker brings with him a staff packed with former big leaguers. Gary Pettis, a longtime coach and defensive wizard in his playing days, is serving as third base coach.
Former catcher Dan Firova, outfielder Jacque Jones (who played for Baker during his time with the Cubs), and ex-first baseman Randall Simon round out the coaching group. That’s a lot of baseball knowledge in one dugout.
As for the roster, Nicaragua enters the tournament as a clear underdog, but they’ve got some familiar names. Cheslor Cuthbert, Erasmo Ramirez, and JC Ramirez bring MLB experience to the lineup.
Still, the road won’t be easy – their first pool play game comes against the Dominican Republic, a perennial powerhouse, on March 6. Before that, they’ll get a tune-up against the New York Mets in an exhibition matchup on March 3.
For Baker, this isn’t about chasing another trophy or adding to an already decorated résumé. It’s about staying connected to the game, mentoring players, and embracing a new kind of challenge. And for Nicaragua, having a manager of Baker’s caliber in the dugout is a game-changer – a chance to punch above their weight on the international stage.
Dusty Baker’s baseball journey has taken him from the batter’s box to the dugout, from the World Series to the WBC. And now, it’s taking him to Nicaragua – not as a retiree looking back, but as a leader still moving forward.
