Nicaragua national baseball team

National men's baseball team of Nicaragua

Nicaragua national baseball team

Information
Country|  Nicaragua
Federation| Nicaraguan Baseball Federation
Confederation| WBSC Americas
Manager| Sandor Guido
WBSC ranking
Current|  16  (27 November 2024)[1]
Highest| 12 (June 2021)
Lowest| 17 (December 2022)
Uniforms

Home

Away

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World Baseball Classic
Appearances| 2 (first in 2023)
Best result| Pool Stage (2023)
Olympic Games
Appearances| 2 (first in 1984)
Best result| 4th (1 time, in 1996)
World Cup
Appearances| 30 (first in 1939)
Best result|  2nd (5 times, most recent in 1990)
Pan American Games
Appearances| 5 (first in 1983)
Best result|  2nd (2 times, most recent in 1995)

The Nicaragua national baseball team (Spanish: Selección de béisbol de Nicaragua) is the national baseball team of Nicaragua. Considered the best in Central America along with Panama, it represents Nicaragua in international tournaments.

Nicaragua has a long history of international baseball, making its first appearance at the second Baseball World Cup (then called the Amateur World Series) in 1939; it hosted the BWC/AWS hosting five times and earned five second-place finishes, the last in 1990. It has participated in the Olympic Games twice, in 1984 and 1996. Nicaragua qualified for the World Baseball Classic for the first time in 2023.

In regional competitions, Nicaragua has qualified for the Pan American Games five times, in 1983, 1995, 2007, 2015, and 2019. It is a regular competitor at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and has historically dominated the Central American Games.

## History

[edit]

### World Baseball Classic era (2013–present)

[edit]

Nicaragua first participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualification, held from 15 to 19 November 2012 at the Estadio Nacional de Panamá in Panama City. They were assigned to Qualifier 3 alongside Brazil, Colombia and Panama. The tournament used a double-elimination format and the Nicaraguan team lost against Colombia 1–8 in their opening game and 2–6 to Panama in their second, resulting in their elimination. The Nicaraguan squad was managed by Dennis Martínez, the first Nicaraguan player to reach Major League Baseball.[2]

The Nicaraguan team participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualification, competing in Qualifier 2, that took place from 17 to 20 March 2016 at the  Estadio B'Air in Mexicali, Mexico. Led by former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard, Nicaragua shared the pool with hosts Mexico, Czech Republic and Germany.[3][4] The qualifier followed a modified double-elimination tournament. Nicaragua defeated Germany 5–4 in the preliminaries, but lost to Mexico 0–11 in the semifinals. The team had the chance to reach the qualifying game after defeating Czech Republic 7–6 in the lower final; however, they lost again to Mexico 12–1, that secured its place in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[5]

The team failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics at the eight-team Americas Qualifying Event held in Florida from 31 May through 5 June 2021.[6] Nicaragua finished the first round with a 1–2 record, suffering defeats against the United States (1–7) and the Dominican Republic (3–13 in eight innings); their sole victory was against Puerto Rico 7–6 in extra innings. The team was managed by Marvin Benard.[7]

Nicaragua qualified for the first time in their history to the 2023 World Baseball Classic. They participated in the Pool B of the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification, held from 30 September to 5 October in the Estadio Nacional de Panamá. The tournament used a double-elimination format again. The Nicaraguan team lost to Brazil 1–4 in their first game, defeated Pakistan 12–0 in seven innings in their second game, defeated Argentina 6–5 in their third game and defeated Brazil 3–1 in their fourth game to secure a spot in the final tournament.[8]

The team competed in the 2023 World Baseball Classic Pool D from 11 to 15 March 2023 in Miami, Florida, now under manager Sandor Guido.[9] They shared the pool with Dominican Republic, Israel, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Nicaragua finished last in the pool, losing all four of its games.

Nicaragua participated in the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualification as part of the Pool A held in the Taipei Dome from 21 to 25 February 2025, alongside hosts Chinese Taipei, South Africa and Spain. They finished the tournament undefeated and secured a spot in the 2026 final tournament.[10]

## Current roster

[edit]

Nicaragua roster – 2026 World Baseball Classic qualification

Players | Coaches
Pitchers

* 10 Kenword Burton
* 72 Leo Crawford
* 30 Fidencio Flores
* 77 Jesús Garrido
* 29 Ernesto Glasgon
* 44 Yeris Gonzalez
* 41 Osman Gutierrez
* 36 Ronald Medrano
* 32 Dilmer Mejia
* 31 Ángel Obando
* 66 J. C. Ramírez
* 37 Carlos Teller
* 78 Bryan Torres
* 88 Axel Zapata

|  | Catchers

* 27 Melvin Novoa
* 25 Ronald Rivera

Infielders

* 1 Benjamin Alegría
* 14 Freddvil Chevez
* 5 Steven Leyton
* 28 Elian Miranda
* 48 Elian Rayo
* 18 Emanuel Trujillo
* 23 Freddy Zamora

Outfielders

* 97 Chase Dawson
* 45 Omar Mendoza
* 99 Juan Montes
* 20 José Orozco
* 95 Cristhian Sandoval

|  | Manager

* 7 Sandor Guido

Coaches

* 26 Julio Sanchez (Bench)
* 56 Len Picota (Pitching)
* 57 Aníbal Vega (First base)
* 2 Dorian Garcia (Third base)
* 4 Cairo Murillo (Bullpen coach)
* 22 Rodolfo Bone (Bullpen catcher)

## Results and fixtures

[edit]

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[11]

Legend

Win Lose Void or postponed Fixture

### 2019

[edit]

Pan American Games Q | 30 January  | Nicaragua | 12–4  |  Mexico | Estádio Nishi, Brazil

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10:00 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games Q | 31 January  | Dominican Republic | 10–3  |  Nicaragua | Estádio Nishi, Brazil

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10:00 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games Q | 1 February  | Nicaragua | 6–2  |  Brazil | Estádio Nishi, Brazil

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14:30 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games Q | 2 February  | Colombia | 5–4  |  Nicaragua | Academia CBBS, Brazil

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14:30 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games Q | 3 February  | Canada | 12–14  |  Nicaragua | Academia CBBS, Brazil

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10:00 BRT |  | Boxscore |  |
Pan American Games GS | 30 July  | Puerto Rico | 7–3  |  Nicaragua | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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10:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 1,059

Pan American Games GS | 31 July  | Nicaragua | 4–2  |  Dominican Republic | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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10:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 577

Pan American Games GS | 1 August  | Peru | 0–10 (F/7) |  Nicaragua | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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19:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 1,994

Pan American Games SR | 2 August  | Nicaragua | 1–11 (F/7) |  Colombia | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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19:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 1,513

Pan American Games SR | 3 August  | Nicaragua | 0–10 (F/7) |  Canada | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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15:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 1,979

Pan American Games 3rd | 4 August  | Colombia | 0–6  |  Nicaragua | Campo de Béisbol, Peru

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11:05 PET |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 0

### 2022

[edit]

World Baseball Classic Q | 1 October  | Brazil | 4–1  |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional de Panamá, Panama

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12:00 CT | WP: Felipe Sales
Sv: Enzo Sawayama (1)
| Boxscore | LP: J. C. Ramírez
| Attendance: 695
Umpires: HP: Dane Poncsak. 1B: Juan Manuel Rodriguez. 2B: Anthony Perez. 3B: Lisa Turbitt
World Baseball Classic Q | 2 October  | Pakistan | 0–12 (F/7) |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional de Panamá, Panama

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12:00 ET | LP: Muhammad Zohaib
| Boxscore | WP: Osman Gutierrez
HR: Isaac Benard (1)  | Attendance: 495
Umpires: HP: Juan Manuel Rodriguez. 1B: Anthony Perez. 2B: Austin Jones. 3B: Mark Stewart
World Baseball Classic Q | 4 October  | Argentina | 5–6  |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional de Panamá, Panama

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12:00 CT | LP: Franco Perez
HR: Lucas Stalman (1)  | Boxscore | WP: Berman Espinoza
Sv: Roniel Raudes
| Attendance: 185
Umpires: HP: Mark Stewart. 1B: Michael Ulloa. 2B: Dane Poncsak. 3B: Juan Manuel Rodriguez
World Baseball Classic Q | 5 October  | Nicaragua | 3–1  |  Brazil | Estadio Nacional de Panamá, Panama

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19:00 CT | WP: Osman Gutierrez
Sv: Joaquin Acuna (1)
| Boxscore | LP: Heitor Tokar
| Attendance: 769
Umpires: HP: Anthony Perez. 1B: Dane Poncsak. 2B: Mark Stewart. 3B: Lisa Turbitt

### 2023

[edit]

Central American & Caribbean Games Q | 6 February  | Honduras | 0–7  |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional Soberanía, Nicaragua

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18:30 CT |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 560

Central American & Caribbean Games Q | 7 February  | Nicaragua | 13–0 (F/7) |  Costa Rica | Estadio Nacional Soberanía, Nicaragua

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18:30 CT |  | Boxscore |  |
Central American & Caribbean Games Q | 9 February  | El Salvador | 0–8  |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional Soberanía, Nicaragua

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18:30 CT |  | Boxscore |  |
Central American & Caribbean Games Q | 10 February  | Nicaragua | 21–0 (F/7) |  Guatemala | Estadio Nacional Soberanía, Nicaragua

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18:30 CT |  | Boxscore |  |
Central American & Caribbean Games Q | 12 February  | Honduras | 1–13  |  Nicaragua | Estadio Nacional Soberanía, Nicaragua

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18:30 CT |  | Boxscore |  | Attendance: 5,000

World Baseball Classic GS | 11 March  | Nicaragua | 1–9  |  Puerto Rico | loanDepot Park, United States

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12:00 ET | LP: J. C. Ramírez (0–1)
HR: Elian Miranda (1)  | Boxscore | WP: Nicholas Padilla (1–0)
| Attendance: 35,399
Umpires: HP – Mike Estabrook, 1B – Alejandro Pecero, 2B – Ángel Hernández, 3B – Chris Graham
World Baseball Classic GS | 12 March  | Nicaragua | 1–3  |  Israel | loanDepot Park, United States

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12:00 ET | LP: Jonathan Loáisiga (0–1)
| Boxscore | WP: Richard Bleier (1–0)
Sv: Robert Stock (1)
| Attendance: 19,955
Umpires: HP – Maikol Tibabijo, 1B – Ron Kulpa, 2B – Tim Meyer, 3B – Andy Fletcher
World Baseball Classic GS | 13 March  | Dominican Republic | 6–1  |  Nicaragua | loanDepot Park, United States

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12:00 ET | WP: Cristian Javier (1–0)
HR: Juan Soto (1), Manny Machado (1)  | Boxscore | LP: J. C. Ramírez (0–1)
| Attendance: 31,696
Umpires: HP – Chris Graham, 1B – Mike Estabrook, 2B – Maikol Tibabijo, 3B – Ángel Hernández
World Baseball Classic GS | 14 March  | Nicaragua | 1–4  |  Venezuela | loanDepot Park, United States

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12:00 ET | LP: Rodney Theophile (0–1)
| Boxscore | WP: José Ruiz (1–0)
Sv: José Alvarado (1)
| Attendance: 21,873
Umpires: HP – Ángel Hernández, 1B – Chris Guccione, 2B – Alejandro Pecero, 3B – Tim Meyer

### 2025

[edit]

2026 World Baseball Classic Q | 21 February  | South Africa | 1–2 (F/10) |  Nicaragua | Taipei Dome, Taiwan

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12:00 UTC+8 | LP: Dean Jacobs
| Boxscore | WP: Bryan Torres

2026 World Baseball Classic Q | 22 February  | Spain | 1–2 (F/10) |  Nicaragua | Taipei Dome, Taiwan

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12:00 UTC+8 | LP: Rhiner Cruz
HR: Carlos Colmenarez | Boxscore | WP: Yeris González
HR: Brandon Leyton |
2026 World Baseball Classic Q | 23 February  | Nicaragua | 6–0  |  Chinese Taipei | Taipei Dome, Taiwan

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19:00 UTC+8 | WP: Dilmer Mejía
| Boxscore | LP: Hsu Shiang-sheng
| Attendance: 35,565

## Tournament results

[edit]

### World Baseball Classic

[edit]

World Baseball Classic record |  | Qualification record

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Year  | Round  | Position  | W | L | RS | RA | W | L | RS | RA
2006 | did not enter | No qualifiers held
2009
2013 | did not qualify | 0  | 2  | 3  | 14
2017 | 2  | 2  | 13  | 33
2023 | Group stage  | 19th  | 0  | 4  | 4  | 22  | 3  | 1  | 22  | 10
2026 | To be determined | 3  | 0  | 10  | 2
Total | Round 1 | 2/6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 59

### Olympic Games

[edit]

Summer Olympics record |  | Qualification

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Year  | Round  | Position  | W | L | % | RS | RA
1984 | Preliminary | 5th (tied)[a] | 1 | 2 | .333 | 11 | 29 |  1983 Pan American Games
1992 |  Did not qualify | Did not qualify
1996 | Bronze Match  | 4th  | 4  | 5  | .444  | 48  | 48  |  1995 Pan American Games
2000 |  Did not qualify |  Did not qualify
2004
2008
2020
2028 | To be determined | To be determined
Total [b] | 1/5 |  | 4 | 5 | .444 | 48 | 48 |

1. ^ No medals awarded; tournament was a demonstration sport only
2. ^ Totals only include years 1992 to 2008 and 2020, during which baseball was an official medal sport.

The team tried but failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics at the Americas Qualifying Event on May 31 through June 5, 2021.[12]

### Baseball World Cup

[edit]

Amateur World Series and Baseball World Cup record

Year  | Host | Round | Position | W | L | RS | RA |  | Year  | Host | Round | Position | W | L | RS | RA |  | Year  | Host | Round | Position | W | L | RS | RA
1939 | Cuba  |  |  | 2 of 3  | 3  | 3  |  |  | 1961 | Costa Rica  |  |  | 7 of 10  |  |  |  |  | 1984 | Cuba  |  |  | 7 of 13  |  |  |  |
1940 | Cuba  |  |  | 2 of 7  | 9  | 3  |  |  | 1965 | Colombia  |  |  | 6 of 9  |  |  |  |  | 1988 | Italy  |  |  | 7 of 12  |  |  |  |
1941 | Cuba  |  |  | 7 of 9  | 2  | 6  |  |  | 1969 | Dominican Republic  |  |  | 5 of 11  |  |  |  |  | 1990 | Canada  |  |  | 2 of 12  |  |  |  |
1944 | Venezuela  |  |  | 7 of 8  |  |  |  |  | 1970 | Colombia  |  |  | 8 of 12  |  |  |  |  | 1994 | Nicaragua  |  |  | 4 of 16  |  |  |  |
1945 | Venezuela  |  |  | 4 of 6  |  |  |  |  | 1971 | Cuba  |  |  | 3 of 10  |  |  |  |  | 1998 | Italy  | Finals  |  | 3 of 16  |  |  |  |
1947 | Colombia  |  |  | 3 of 9  |  |  |  |  | 1972 | Nicaragua  |  |  | 3 of 16  |  |  |  |  | 2001 | Taiwan  | Round 1  |  | 9 of 16  |  |  |  |
1948 | Nicaragua  |  |  | 7 of 8  |  |  |  |  | 1973 | Nicaragua  |  |  | 2 of 11  |  |  |  |  | 2003 | Cuba  | Finals  |  | 6 of 16  |  |  |  |
1950 | Nicaragua  |  |  | 5 of 12  |  |  |  |  | 1974 | United States  |  |  | 2 of 9  |  |  |  |  | 2005 | Netherlands  | Finals  |  | 6 of 16  | 7  | 4  |  |
1951 | Mexico  | Round 1  |  | 5 of 11  | 6  | 4  |  |  | 1976 | Colombia  |  |  | 4 of 11  |  |  |  |  | 2009 | Italy  | Round 2  |  | 6 of 16  |  |  |  |
1952 | Cuba  |  |  | 5 of 13  |  |  |  |  | 1978 | Italy  |  |  | 5 of 11  |  |  |  |  | 2011 | Panama  | Round 1  |  | 14 of 16  | 1  | 6  | 18  | 47
1953 | Venezuela  |  |  | 3 of 11  |  |  |  |  |  | Total | 30/39 | 5  5  | - | - | - | -

### Pan American Games

[edit]

* 1983 :  2nd
* 1995 :  2nd
* 2007 :  3rd
* 2019 :  3rd

### Intercontinental Cup

[edit]

* 1973 : 4th
* 1975 :  3rd
* 1977 : 4th
* 1979 : 4th
* 1983 : 6th
* 1985 : 7th
* 1987 : 7th
* 1989 :  3rd
* 1991 :  3rd
* 1993 : 4th
* 1995 :  3rd

### Central American and Caribbean Games

[edit]

* 1935 :  2nd
* 1938 :  3rd
* 1950 :  3rd
* 1978 :  2nd
* 1998 :  2nd
* 2010 :  3rd
* 2014 :  2nd

### Central American Games

[edit]

* 1977 :  1st
* 1986 :  1st
* 1990 :  2nd
* 1994 :  1st
* 1997 :  2nd
* 2001 :  1st
* 2006 :  1st
* 2010 :  2nd
* 2013 :  1st
* 2017 :  1st

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
2. ^ "WBCQ: Panama eliminates Nicaragua". wbsc.org. World Baseball Softball Confederation. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
3. ^ "Mexico, Panama WBC Qualifier Rosters". Baseball America. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
4. ^ Timmers, Josh (15 March 2016). "World Baseball Classic: Mexicali Qualifier". Bleed Cubbie Blue. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
5. ^ Axisa, Mike (21 March 2016). "Mexico, Colombia clinch spots in the 2017 World Baseball Classic". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
6. ^ "USA Baseball to open Olympic baseball qualifier vs. Nicaragua". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
7. ^ "2021 Nicaragua Olympic Qualifying Roster". Baseball America. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
8. ^ "Panama and Nicaragua qualify for World Baseball Classic 2023". wbsc.org. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
9. ^ "Sandor Guido será Manager de Nicaragua para el clásico mundial de Baseball". Viva Nicaragua Canal 13 (in Spanish). 3 January 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
10. ^ Clair, Michael (25 February 2025). "Perfect Nicaragua, Chinese Taipei clinch '26 World Baseball Classic berths". MLB.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
11. ^ "Nicaragua in the WBSC Ranking (Men's baseball)". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
12. ^ "2020 Baseball Americas Qualifier - The official site - WBSC". olympicbaseball.wbsc.org. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.

* v
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Nicaragua national baseball team — managers

World Baseball Classic|

* Guido (2023)

Summer Olympics|

* Areas (1984)
* Sánchez (1996)

IBAF / FIBA / WBSC|

* Méndez
* Ealo
* Somoza
* Cayasso
* Córdoba
* Toruño
* Areas
* Cisneros
* Sánchez
* Fuentes
* Martínez
* Benard
* Guido

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Baseball in Nicaragua

WBSC Americas

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* Baseball World Cup
* 1948
* 1950
* 1972
* 1973
* 1994
* 2025 Serie de las Américas
* Latin American Series
* 2016
* 2018
* 1964 Interamerican Series

Nicaraguan Sports Hall of Fame inductees

* Porfi Altamirano
* Stanley Cayasso
* Tony Chévez
* Carlos García Solórzano
* David Green
* Dennis Martínez
* José Meléndez
* Chale Pereira
* Albert Williams

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