His signs are clear: Gil aims for MLB
Known for his candor, Mexico’s skipper in WBC seeks manager position in big leagues.
MIAMI — Benji Gil didn’t hold back. When asked about the World Baseball Classic’s decision to move up Mexico’s quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico to Friday, the Mexico manager bluntly contended that it was unfair.
The plan had been for the winner of Pool C to play Saturday against Pool D’s runner-up. Mexico won Pool C. Puerto Rico finished second in Pool D. But there was some fine print: Team USA would play Saturday’s quarterfinal game if it advanced from Pool C no matter what — whether the Americans finished in first or second. As a result, Team USA will face Venezuela, the Pool D winner, Saturday while Mexico had a day off after a cross-country flight snatched away.
“It’s a disadvantage,” Gil said a few hours before first pitch Friday. “100%.”
The hindrance ultimately didn’t matter. Mexico came from behind to beat Puerto Rico 5-4 after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning for the country’s biggest victory in international baseball competition. With it, Mexico advanced to the WBC semifinals for the first time. It will play Japan on Monday.
Gil is known for (relatively) unfiltered thoughts on topics. One is his future. He played eight seasons in the majors — four each with the Texas Rangers and Angels — as a utility infielder and 20 seasons in the Mexican winter league. Now he wants to become a major league manager. It’s what he’s working toward. It’s a reason why he took a job on the Angels’ coaching staff before last season and why
he chose to manage Mexico in the WBC.
“Anything that keeps you getting closer to the end goal,” Gil, 50, said. “And the end goal is to manage at the big league level someday and win a world title.”
Gil isn’t the only manager in the tournament who could end up heading a major league dugout in the future. Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina began his managerial career in the Venezuelan winter league after retiring at the end of last season following a 19-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa had never managed before this tournament, but he’s interviewed for multiple major league managerial jobs.
DeRosa, however, said he didn’t take the Team USA job with an eye on a future opportunity in 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 said.
Team USA was the overwhelming favorite to win Pool C, but Mexico upset the Americans last Sunday. The result ultimately served as a tiebreaker to win the group. But, as Gil noted, Mexico was given a bad draw.
Mexico landed in Miami from Phoenix at 7 a.m. Thursday. Instead of working out, Mexico took the day off. Meanwhile, the U.S., with an extra day of rest, worked out at LoanDepot Park on Friday. The adjustment also meant Mexico and Dodgers ace Julio Urías had a day of rest taken way.Urías gave up four runs in the first inning Friday before tossing three scoreless innings.
“It’s nothing against the U.S., all right?” Gil said. “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 increasingly buttonedup world. It’s one of the things he’s known for from his time managing in Mexico. That, and winning. He’s won four championships in the Mexican winter league with the Tomateros de Culiacán.
Last season in Culiacán he was fired in November after a disappointing start only to be rehired within hours after players protested.
“For us, he’s a leader, a leader to follow,” said Mexico catcher Alexis Wilson, who has also played under Gil in Culiacán.
In his only season in the summer Mexican League, he led the expansion Mariachis de Guadalajara to the league’s best record without an expansion draft to fill the roster. The exploits led to being named manager of Mexico’s Olympic baseball team in Tokyo and to the position for the country’s 2023 WBC team.
“He’s the best manager in Mexico,” said former major leaguer Edgar González, Mexico’s manager in the 2017 WBC. “And he’s the best because he’s a great motivator. Guys have to be able to motivate players nowadays.”
Gil leading Mexico to an unexpected first-place finish in Pool C is a tiny sample size added to a decade of managerial experience. But none of that experience has come in affiliated baseball.
“I want to believe that this helps, and that it should,” Gil said. “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 both sides of the border. He not only seamlessly bounces between English and Spanish, he can relate to Latinos and Americans alike at a different level. About 30% of players on major league rosters are Latino. Gil’s ability to communicate checks another box.
“There’s a lot of people that are bilingual,” Gil said. “There’s not a lot of people that are bicultural.”
Gil said he’s never interviewed for a major league manager job. He remains hopeful he’ll get a shot down the line. For now, he continues to pad his resume and speak his mind.