Mexico WBC supervisor Benji Gil needs an opportunity to steer an MLB staff

MIAMI — 

Benji Gil didn’t maintain again. When requested concerning the World Baseball Basic’s choice to maneuver up Mexico’s quarterfinal recreation towards Puerto Rico to Friday, the Mexico supervisor bluntly contended that it was unfair.

The plan had been for the winner of Pool C to play Saturday towards Pool D’s runner-up. Mexico gained Pool C. Puerto Rico completed second in Pool D. However there was some tremendous print: Staff USA would play Saturday’s quarterfinal recreation if it superior from Pool C it doesn’t matter what — whether or not the Individuals completed in first or second. In consequence, Staff USA will face Venezuela, the Pool D winner, Saturday whereas Mexico had an off day after a cross-country flight snatched away.

“It’s a disadvantage,” Gil stated just a few hours earlier than first pitch Friday. “100%.”

The hindrance in the end didn’t matter. Mexico got here from behind to beat Puerto Rico 5-4 after falling behind 4-0 within the first inning for the nation’s largest victory in worldwide baseball competitors. With it, Mexico superior to the WBC semifinals for the primary time to play Japan on Monday.

“We are showing what Mexican players are capable of at the highest level,” Gil stated.

Gil is understood for his (comparatively) unfiltered ideas on subjects. One is his future. He performed eight seasons within the majors — 4 every with the Texas Rangers and Angels — as a utility infielder and almost 20 years within the Mexican winter league. Now he needs to turn out to be a significant league supervisor. It’s what he’s working towards. It’s a motive why he took a job on the Angels’ teaching employees earlier than final season and a motive why he selected to handle Mexico within the WBC.

“Anything that keeps you getting closer to the end goal,” Gil, 50, stated. “And the end goal is to manage at the big league level some day and win a world title.”

Gil isn’t the one supervisor within the event who may find yourself heading a significant league dugout sooner or later. Puerto Rico supervisor Yadier Molina started his managerial profession within the Venezuelan winter league instantly after retiring on the finish of final season following a 19-year profession with the St. Louis Cardinals. Staff USA supervisor Mark DeRosa had by no means managed earlier than this event, however he’s interviewed for a number of main league managerial jobs.

DeRosa, nonetheless, stated he didn’t take the Staff USA job with an eye fixed on a future alternative within the majors.

“I felt like it would just be a golden opportunity to get back in the fight with the best players in the world,” DeRosa stated. “That was the motivating factor in this.”

Staff USA was the overwhelming favourite to win Pool C, however Mexico upset the Individuals final Sunday. The end result in the end served as a tiebreaker to win the group. However, as Gil famous, Mexico was given a foul draw.

Mexico landed in Miami from Phoenix at 7 a.m. Thursday. As a substitute of figuring out, Mexico selected to take the time without work. In the meantime, the U.S., with an additional day of relaxation, labored out Friday at loanDepot Park. The adjustment additionally meant Mexico and Dodger ace Julio Urías had a day of relaxation taken away. Urías gave up 4 runs within the first inning Friday earlier than tossing three scoreless innings to finish his outing. He threw 60 pitches.

“It’s nothing against the U.S., all right?” Gil stated. “If it’s because of TV, I’m telling you right now, if I’m not here, if I’m not at the tournament, I would be watching the game. And I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, well, I’m not going to watch the U.S. game because it’s on Friday and FS1, instead of Saturday on Fox.’”

Gil’s candor is refreshing in an more and more buttoned-up world. It’s one of many issues he’s recognized for from his time managing in Mexico. That, and successful. Gil has gained rather a lot from the highest step. He’s compiled 4 championships within the Mexican winter league with the Tomateros de Culiacán, a staff he spent 13 seasons with as a participant. They misplaced in Recreation 7 of the championship sequence one other yr.

Final season was rocky in Culiacán. So rocky that he was fired in November after a disappointing begin solely to be re-hired inside hours after gamers protested the choice.

“For us, he’s a leader, a leader to follow,” stated Mexico catcher Alexis Wilson, who has additionally performed below Gil in Culiacán. “He’s a mentor for me and for many, someone who has given us that confidence you need.”

In his solely season in the summertime Mexican League, he led the growth Mariachis de Guadalajara to the league’s finest document with out an growth draft to fill the roster. The exploits led to being named supervisor of Mexico’s Olympic baseball staff in Tokyo and to the place for the nation’s 2023 WBC staff — probably the most gifted Mexican baseball staff ever assembled for a world competitors.

“He’s the best manager in Mexico,” stated former main leaguer Edgar González, Mexico’s supervisor within the 2017 WBC. “And he’s the best because he’s a great motivator. Guys have to be able to motivate players nowadays.”

This week, Gil led Mexico to an sudden first-place end in Pool C, buoyed by an upset over Staff USA in Phoenix. It’s a tiny pattern dimension added to a decade of managerial expertise. However none of that have has are available affiliated baseball.

“I want to believe that this helps, and that it should,” Gil stated. “I think anybody managing in this should be worthy of consideration. Hopefully, this matters and they’ll really evaluate. The way I would love it to be is that I’m literally getting scouted.”

Gil was born in Tijuana and grew up on either side of the border. He went to highschool on the U.S. aspect — in Nationwide Metropolis and Chula Vista — and performed all of his baseball in Mexico. He crossed the border, he stated, three or 4 instances every week. His father lived in Tijuana — he had a enterprise there — and visited days at a time.

Due to the expertise, he not solely seamlessly bounces between English and Spanish, however he pertains to Latinos and Individuals alike at a unique stage. About 30% of gamers on major-league rosters are Latino. Gil’s potential to speak checks one other field.

“”There’s lots of people which can be bilingual,” Gil stated. “There’s not a lot of people that are bicultural. There’s a tremendous difference.”

Gil stated he’s by no means interviewed for a significant league managerial job. He stays hopeful he’ll get a shot down the road. For now, he continues to pad his resume and converse his thoughts with a staff making historical past.