Who is Mexico's baseball manager? Meet Benji Gil coaching in 2026 World Baseball Classic
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Who is Mexico's baseball manager? Meet Benji Gil coaching in 2026 World Baseball Classic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Mexico has been part of all World Baseball Classics heading into 2026 and has qualified once again.
Team Mexico finished in third place in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the first year under the tutelage of Benji Gil. It was their best finish since they started competing in the international tournament. Mexico reached the semifinals but lost 6-5 to Japan.
Following the team's success, Gil has been retained to coach Team Mexico again for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was originally named manager of the Mexican national team for the 2020 Olympics and served in the role again for the 2023 WBC.
Here is everything to know about Gil, who will manage Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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Who is Mexico's baseball manager?
Team Mexico is led by Benji Gil. He was hired to be the national team's manager in 2021 for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Gil was then named the manager for Mexico's World Baseball Classic team ahead of the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
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Who is Benji Gil?
Gil is a former baseball player who was in the MLB from 1993 to 2003. He played shortstop throughout his career, despite being a pitcher in high school. Gil played for the Texas Rangers from 1993 to 1997, and then was out of the league for three years. He returned in 2000 with the Los Angeles Angels and was with the franchise until he was released in early August 2003 due to poor performance. Gil spent the next two years bouncing around the minor leagues with five different franchises.
Gil then began coaching in 2014 in the Mexican Pacific League. He was with that team until he joined a Mexican Baseball League expansion team in 2021. After only one season, Gil joined the Angels staff, where he was for two seasons.
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Where is Benji Gil from?
Gil was born in Tijuana, Mexico on October 6, 1972. He moved to the United States when he was young and attended Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. Gil mainly pitched and had a 6-3 record with 89 strikeouts and a 0.52 ERA in 1990. He threw a no-hitter his senior season. Gil was also a good hitter and was drafted by the Rangers 19th overall in the 1991 MLB Draft to play shortstop.
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Mexico WBC coaching staff
Here is who will be joining Gil and coaching for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
NamePositionVinny CastillaBench CoachJacob CruzHitting CoachRoberto MagallanesHitting CoachElmer DessensPitching CoachHoracio RamirezPitching CoachGil VelazquezFirst Base CoachTony PerezchicaThird Base CoachManny Del CampoBullpen CoachSantiago ChavezBullpen Catcher