Dusty Baker is managing again, and true to form, he’s doing it his way.
The 76-year-old, who led the Houston Astros to their second World Series championship in 2022, has come out of retirement to manage Nicaragua in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Baker’s squad opened pool play Friday in Miami against the Dominican Republic, with remaining games against the Netherlands, Israel, and Venezuela scheduled through Monday.
Baker initially passed on a World Baseball Classic opportunity in 2023, choosing instead to stay focused on Houston’s attempt at a repeat title. This time, the pull was different. The opportunity to lead Nicaragua came together through longtime friend and team general manager George Santiago, who spent years recruiting Baker for the role. A visit to Nicaragua with his wife last year helped seal the decision.
“No. 1, I played in Latin America—Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico—and it was the most exciting time, the most exciting baseball,” Baker said at the Winter Meetings in December.
At 76, Baker has acknowledged that the grind of a 162-game MLB season is behind him. The WBC’s condensed format, however, offered something more manageable—and more tempting.
“This scratches the itch that I need for a month,” he said.
Baker’s résumé needs little introduction to Astros fans. He retired after the 2023 season with more than 2,100 managerial wins, ranking among the winningest managers in Major League history and becoming the first to lead five different franchises to division titles. His 2022 Astros club remains the crowning achievement of his managerial career.
His coaching staff in Miami includes former Astros outfield and baserunning coach Gary Pettis, a familiar face to Houston fans from the championship run. Nicaragua’s roster features several players with professional experience, including Mets infielder Mark Vientos.
“He’s a legend in the game,” Vientos said of Baker. “Every time he speaks, I’m all ears.”
Nicaragua enters pool play as an underdog in a group that includes the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. But Baker has never been one to manage to the odds.
“Every game starts with the teams tied at zero,” he said at his introductory press conference. “No matter who you play, your desire to win can make a difference.”
For Astros fans, seeing Baker back in uniform, even in another country’s colors, is a reminder of the steady leadership and warmth that defined his time in Houston.
Photo by All-Pro Reels via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
