Omar Vizquel Selected To Manage Team Venezuela In 2017 World Baseball Classic
DETROIT – Detroit Tigers first base coach Omar Vizquel has been tabbed to manage Team Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Vizquel is in his third season on the Tigers coaching staff as the club's first base, infield and baserunning coach. Prior to joining the Tigers, Vizquel spent one season as the roving field instructor in the Angels minor league system.
Vizquel retired following the 2012 season after a 29-year playing career, including 24 years at the major league level with the Mariners (1989-93), Indians (1994-2004), Giants (2005-08), Rangers (2009), White Sox (2010-11) and Blue Jays (2012).
An 11-time Gold Glove recipient, Vizquel was selected to the American League All-Star Team three times (1998, 1999, 2002) as a member of the Cleveland Indians. Vizquel was inducted into the Indians Hall of Fame on June 21, 2014, and the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame on December 5, 2015.
Vizquel owns the second-highest all-time career fielding percentage (.985) among big league shortstops (min. 1000 games) and ranks first in career games played as a shortstop (2,709) and is 12th all-time in total games played (2,968).
Vizquel made six postseason appearances with the Indians (1995-99, 2001), including two trips to the World Series in 1995 and 1997. Vizquel was the captain of Team Venezuela in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
A native of Caracas, VZ, Vizquel and his wife, Blanca, reside in Sammanish, WA, in the offseason.
