As a great honor and pride that he hopes to fulfill and materialize at the top, the newly appointed leader of the Dominican team, Rodney Linares, took on this great challenge of leading the team through the best paths in the World Baseball Classic in the role of helmsman. to be held in March 2013.
In his presentation this Thursday at a hotel in Baltimore, Linares expressed that he assumes it as a great commitment, the greatest he has had in his leadership career, which he hopes to fulfill fully.
“Thank God, thank you Mr. President of the Baseball Federation and also to Nelson Cruz for this brilliant opportunity“, were his first words, after being introduced by Cruz himself, general manager of the Dominican team and Juan Núñez Nepomuceno, president of FEDOBE.
It is a great honor for me to appear immediately, even more than a challenge, it is something that I take with great pride and I will try to fully comply with it,” said Linares, who stated that since his designation was known, many players have communicated with him through different channels to congratulate him and make himself available to him.
Son of the great Dominican instructor Julio-Sijo-Linares, the newly appointed leader, stated that he has an extensive list of personnel who could make up the coaching staff that will accompany him in this difficult race. It will be released in the coming weeks.
Another aspect that Linares pondered well will be to contribute so that a greater number of talented players are part of the Dominican team, since the mission is to have the best possible squad.
“We must put together the best possible team, because our great mission is to go in search of conquering the crown, as happened in 2013,” added Linares, while exhibiting for the first time the traditional shirt with the national colors.
“It is the first time that I see myself represent a Dominican team, this is bigger than when I first entered the United States after my signing,” he added.
Cruz values designation
On his side, Nelson Cruz highlighted the great professionalism that Linares exhibits, whom he considered as a person with a great human and communicative capacity and who will surely know how to bring together that group of star players who will represent the national colors.
“He is a leader who is 100 percent trained with the new times that baseball is exhibiting today, in addition to exhibiting a great work ethic and connecting 100 percent with the players,” said Cruz, who has been related for a long time. with Linares.
Cruz wasted no time in pointing out that choosing Linares as the team’s manager was not an easy task. “We had many candidates,” he explained.
Núñez: Bet on quality
Also, Juan Núñez Nepomuceno, president of Fedobe, highlighted the qualities of the recently appointed leader and said that Linares has a profile identical to Cruz’s and I already know that he will be a perfect match.
“Since we were proposed, we dedicated ourselves to studying it in depth and I soon realized that she would be one of the ideal people to take on this important position,” said Núnez.
Linares’ performance as a strategist
Linares, since 2018, has served as the prelude coach for the Tampa Rays, a team that ends its series against the Orioles on this date.
His history as a strategist at the different levels he has done it, as well as in the championships of the Dominican Baseball League.
In the United States, at the Minor League level, he has directed teams for twelve years, being the highest in 2018 when he commanded Fresno, Triple A branch of the Astros and culminated with a mark of 82-57, this being the second best record of his career.
The 44-year-old instructor has a lifetime record of 786-749 for an average of .512, in which he has captained at all levels, all with the Astros.
In Dominican baseball
While in the Dominican League he has been in charge of Estrellas, Aguilas, Gigantes and Leones, with a 44-59 record in five seasons.
On his side he led the Giants in the 2017-18 Round Robin and went 5-6.