The Dominican Baseball Federation (Fedobe) announced on Monday the hiring of Washington Nationals player Nelson Cruz as the next general manager of the team that will represent the Dominican Republic in the next World Baseball Classic.

This announcement confirmed the reports made during the past weekend, which placed the Dominican slugger in the management of the Dominican team, replacing Moisés Alou, who held the position in the last two tournaments.

To hold this position, Cruz, 42, needed special permission from the Major League Commissioner, Rob Manfred, and the players’ union, because he is still an active player who is playing for the 18th season in the ‘Big Top’.

However, ESPN journalist Enrique Rojas reported that he has already obtained the go-ahead, so this should not be an obstacle.

The signing of Cruz to be the manager of the World Classic team brings back pleasant memories, since he was one of the heroes of the 2013 deed that ended with the only championship in the country, being named to the ideal team of the contest.

Four years later he was also part of the team and, although it did not get the desired result, Nelson hit the most memorable shot, hitting a three-run homer off Andrew Miller of the United States to win a game in the group stage.

The fifth edition of this tournament will be played from March 9 to 21, 2023 in Taiwan, Japan and the USA.

The Dominican Republic will be part of Group D of the tournament along with Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Israel, plus a winner of the 2022 qualifying stage, and will play this initial stage at loanDepot Park in Miami (USA).

There will be the qualification for the quarterfinals of Group D, the quarterfinals between groups C and D, on March 17 and 18, as well as the semifinals and finals, which will be played from March 19 to 21. .