Joey Cora: Why Nicaragua Can Compete at the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Joey Cora, originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico, speaks from the experience of someone who has spent more than three decades in professional baseball, first as a player and later as a coach in Major League Baseball. He is currently the third base coach for the Detroit Tigers and, from that role, closely observes not only what happens at the highest level but also the processes that take place outside traditional circuits.

In an interview with LA PRENSA, Cora refers to the moment that Nicaraguan baseball is going through ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Classic to be played between March 5 and 17, and the reasons why he considers that the Nicaraguan National Team can compete, beyond the names or recent history. For him, the appointment of the prestigious former Major League Baseball manager, Dusty Baker as manager of the Nicaraguan team is not a symbolic gesture, but a concrete sign that there are conditions to compete.

«If Dusty Baker agreed to coach Nicaragua, it’s because he sees a real opportunity,» he says. «I don’t think someone with his track record, after retiring, is going to take over a team that doesn’t have a chance.»

From his point of view, Baker doesn’t need exposure or additional recognition. “Dusty doesn’t need to manage, he’s already had his career,” he insists. “If he accepts, it’s because he saw something in this group, because he understands that there is talent to compete.” 

Nicaragua will arrive at the World Baseball Classic with a roster made up of minor league players, players from the national championship, some former Major Leaguers, and other big leaguers like Mark Vientos and Erasmo Ramírez. For Cora, that profile should not automatically be interpreted as a disadvantage compared to teams with greater historical depth. 

“The Classic is a different tournament,” he explains, “it’s not a long season where the best team ends up prevailing over time.” 

A short tournament that levels the differences

Cora remarks that the format of the World Classic reduces the distances between teams with very different realities. «It’s not 162 games like in the Major Leagues, it’s a short tournament and anything can happen there.»

In this context, he explains, a single match can define the complete course of a national team. «You can lose one and be out, or win it and move on. It’s that simple.»

He recognizes that teams such as the United States, Japan or the Dominican Republic start with an advantage due to the number of elite players available, but clarifies that this does not guarantee results. «The favorites also lose, a bad day, a bad play, and the tournament is over,» said Cora, who will also coach the Puerto Rican team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

That unpredictable character is, in his opinion, one of the keys to the Classic and one of the reasons why Nicaragua can compete without complexes.

Pitchers, hitters, and real weight in the Classic

Asked about the possible absence or limited participation of pitchers like Jonathan Loáisiga, Cora puts the matter into perspective. He acknowledges that his presence would help but clarifies that the impact of pitchers is conditioned by the tournament rules.

“Jonathan Loáisiga would definitely help, but the rules limit pitchers a lot. He can pitch one or two innings every two or three days. It’s not the same influence as in a regular season.” Loáisiga will not participate in the Classic because he will focus on training with his new Major League team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

From his experience, in a short tournament the burden usually falls more heavily on the position players. “A batter who plays every day, who has four or five at-bats per game, can change games,” he explains. 

In that sense, he mentions Mark Vientos (son of a Nicaraguan mother), whom he knows well from having been his coach when they coincided with the New York Mets. “He is an impressive player,” he says. “A player like that can be on the field every day, and that makes a difference in this type of tournament.” 

Nicaragua and a process that is starting to show

Beyond the World Classic, Cora observes a steady growth in Nicaraguan baseball. He does not describe it as a sudden breakthrough, but as the result of a process that is starting to attract attention outside the country.

«Baseball in Nicaragua has improved, Major League organizations are realizing that.»

He mentions that he cannot confirm whether the Detroit Tigers currently have Nicaraguan players on their immediate radar, but he emphasizes that the international market is a constant source of talent. «Talent is not only in the traditional markets; at some point they will look in Nicaragua, in Costa Rica, in Panama.»

Cora also recalls his experience sharing a team with Dennis Martínez in the final years of the legendary pitcher’s career, when they coincided in Seattle. «It was an incredible experience playing with him,» he says. «In a short time, I learned a lot,» he assures.

Teamwork as a Difference

Regarding the most important lesson she has conveyed throughout her 20 years as a coach, Cora does not hesitate to point to teamwork as the decisive factor. Throughout her career, she has been part of champion teams and others that were unable to maintain good results.

“I have been on champion teams and on bad teams; the difference is clear: good teams work together; bad ones play for themselves.”

As she explains, this logic is not limited to the playing field. “It’s not just about the players,” she says. “It also includes the coaches, management, the head office, and the owners.” When everyone pushes in the same direction, she adds, results usually follow.

That collective vision is also reflected in his analysis of the present state of the Detroit Tigers. The team has made the playoffs in the last two seasons, getting past the first round but being eliminated in the second. “We have potential, no doubt, the team is young, and the experience of these years will help us go further,” he says confidently.

Beyond baseball: the Cora Foundation

In addition to his passion and dedication to the sport, Joey also promotes the Cora Foundation alongside his wife Kiria, which was created out of concern for cases of school bullying and cyberbullying affecting children and adolescents.

“Seeing news about 9, 10, 11-year-old children who commit suicide because of bullying is something that my wife and I cannot comprehend,” he states. “That shouldn’t happen.”

From left to right, Don Kelly, manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates; Joey Cora, coach of the Detroit Tigers; Jim Leyland, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member; and Kiria Cora, founder and executive director of the Cora Foundation, during the fundraising event on January 29 in Pittsburgh. LA PRENSA/COURTESY

From her perspective, the problem does not originate solely at school. “It starts at home,” she says; children are not born aggressors. “Someone teaches them, and often it’s at home,” she laments.

He explains that the foundation works on educating families, students, and teachers to identify signs—red flags—as early as possible and to stop bullying before it escalates to the point where a child is contemplating suicide. “That is something that should never happen,” she asserts. 

“In the matter of harassment and bullying, one of the things you have to do is work as a team. If we all work together and understand why this is happening, we can prevent it,” Cora emphasizes.

With great pride, she shares that her wife leads the daily work and that he contributes when his schedule allows, also using his platform in Major League Baseball to open doors and amplify the message.

He received a scholarship at Vanderbilt University

For Cora, baseball allowed her to get a scholarship at Vanderbilt University, in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Over time, she was signed as a professional playing second base, and the first team to welcome her was the San Diego Padres.

Later, he moved to the Chicago White Sox, continued with the Seattle Mariners, and ended her 11-season career with the then Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians).

Cora remembers that the person who had the most influence on his playing style as a baseball player was Venezuelan Ozzie Guillén, who, after being an active player, managed the Chicago White Sox. “When I had the opportunity to play with Ozzie Guillén, he was the one who really brought out my best game, he got to know me, took care of me basically; he taught me a lot about the game and since we were similar players in terms of bunting, playing defense, running, stealing bases, he taught me a lot,” he recalls gratefully.

To date, Cora has already left a significant mark both on and off the field. Some experts in the best baseball in the world consider that his intelligence, speed, and leadership made him a respected player on every team he played for.

Cora prefers modesty when asked how he would like to be remembered in baseball. He says he doesn’t think about statistics or titles; what really matters to him is that players can say that “he helped them reach their full potential, not just as ballplayers, but also as people. This is not just about baseball. It’s about how you are with your family, with your children, with others,” he said.

© Agence Pitt