Baseball legend Albert Pujols built his reputation as one of the most feared hitters in Major League Baseball history. Now, the future Hall of Famer is stepping into a new leadership role — managing the Dominican Republic at the 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic.
The Dominican Republic is widely considered one of the most talented teams in the tournament, and Pujols has been tasked with guiding a roster full of superstar players. His appointment comes after an impressive start to his managerial career in professional baseball.
Albert Pujols earned the Dominican Republic manager role after early coaching success
Pujols’ appointment did not happen by chance. After retiring from MLB, he quickly demonstrated strong leadership skills from the dugout.
In early 2025, he managed Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League and guided the club to the 2024–25 Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana championship. The title run included a dramatic Game 7 victory that cemented his credibility as a manager.
Soon after that achievement, Pujols led the Dominican Republic to another major trophy by winning the 2025 Caribbean Series. That dominant stretch quickly elevated his reputation as one of the most promising new managers in the sport.
Because of those early successes, the Dominican Republic federation entrusted him with the national team ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Dominican Republic aiming to bounce back after disappointing 2023 WBC
The Dominican Republic enters the upcoming tournament with something to prove.
Despite assembling one of the most talented rosters in the competition during the 2023 tournament, the team suffered a shocking early exit and failed to advance past pool play. The result was widely viewed as one of the biggest surprises of that event.
Pujols accepted the managerial role with a clear goal — to restore the Dominican Republic’s dominance on the global baseball stage.
The nation last won the tournament in 2013, and expectations remain extremely high for the upcoming edition.
Pujols brings credibility with a roster full of MLB superstars
One of Pujols’ biggest advantages as a manager is his legendary playing career. Many players on the current roster grew up watching him dominate MLB pitching.
That includes stars such as Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodríguez, and Manny Machado.
The team also features several elite pitchers and infield stars, including Sandy Alcántara, Cristopher Sánchez, Ketel Marte, Carlos Estévez, Camilo Doval, José Ramírez, Rafael Devers, and Geraldo Perdomo.
The roster depth is one of the strongest in the entire tournament, making the Dominican Republic an early favorite to compete for the title.
Nelson Cruz plays key leadership role behind the scenes
Former MLB star Nelson Cruz is also part of the leadership group as the team’s general manager and advisor.
Cruz helped assemble the roster and strongly supported Pujols’ appointment as manager. According to Cruz, having someone of Pujols’ stature ensures that the players remain focused on representing their country first.
With one of the most talented rosters in the tournament and a respected baseball icon guiding the team, the Dominican Republic will enter the 2026 World Baseball Classic determined to reclaim the championship and reassert itself as a powerhouse in international baseball.