Spain has confirmed and announced its coaching staff for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The debutant, which won the WBC Qualifier in Jupiter, Florida in September, will be led by Manager Mauro Mazzotti. Manny Crespo of the Detroit Tigers and José Alguacil of the San Francisco Giants will serve as bench respective third base coach.
Renny Duarte of Novara United continues to be the pitching coach. From Spain Felix Cano (first base coach, Viladecans), Miguel Erroz (bullpen coach, Navarra) and Candelario Diaz (coach, Hercules L’Hospitalet) will be on the staff as well. Antonio de Paz (Tenerife Marlins) and Omar Uribe (Los Angeles Angels) will be the athletic trainers.
Spain is in the toughest first-round group of all. They will face host Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. The preliminary round robin will start on March 7. Spain ousted Israel, France and South Africa in Jupiter to qualify for the main event of the World Baseball Classic. With the WBCQ win the Spanish national team became the third European participant besides Italy and the Netherlands.