WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Five minutes after Team Venezuela recorded the final out of its first World Baseball Classic championship, two adored Houston Astros met behind home plate. Omar López wrapped Javier Bracamonte in a hug. Both men bawled in a viral clip that brought their accomplishment into full focus.
López and Bracamonte are Astros lifers, two of the organization’s most revered people who typify one of baseball’s most cliche terms. Both are “grinders” in every sense of the word. Houston hired López in 1999 as a Venezuelan scout and coach. Bracamonte, the team’s beloved bullpen catcher, joined the franchise two years later.
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Neither has left — and neither hides his pride for Venezuela. López is from Valencia and Bracamonte was born in Caracas. López is one of the people responsible for scouting and signing Jose Altuve, the man who has made the Houston Astros a household brand in Venezuela.
“I had to believe (in) myself with all the obstacles that we had to overcome,” López said on Tuesday night. “(The) insurance company, agents, managers, organizations, you name it. So many things that no one has. I could give you a whole list of obstacles.”
Venezuela played Team USA on Tuesday, a little more than two months after United States military forces captured and extradited Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. U.S. President Donald Trump twice posted on social media about Team Venezuela’s run through the WBC, including after Tuesday’s win.
If any of it became a distraction, López did not allow it to affect his team. On at least two occasions, López told reporters he would not answer questions about the political climate in Venezuela. A few of his players followed their skipper’s lead, including Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr.
López did not have Altuve — Venezuela’s most decorated, active player — on the roster, despite the nine-time All-Star saying in January he “signed the paper that I’m willing to go play.” Failure to secure insurance ruined that idea. López had planned to hit Altuve third in his starting lineup and play him at second base.
Attempts to add Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo to López’s pitching staff after pool play were thwarted. Before Wednesday’s championship game, López revealed three organizations asked him not to use their relievers against Team USA.
“He’s handled himself like a pro. I’m not surprised by it,” Astros manager Joe Espada, one of López’s closest friends, said on Wednesday. “When you have players of that caliber all in one room, that’s when you know if you can coach or not. Can you lead a team? Let’s put egos aside: this is our mission, this is how we’re going to accomplish it. Once you accomplish it, now you start asking the real questions (of) can this guy lead on a big stage?”
López demonstrated he could. More serious consideration for major-league managerial openings could follow suit for the affable, 49-year-old Astros lifer with a lengthy track record prior to Tuesday’s WBC title.
López distinguished himself during a tournament with at least two other bona fide managerial candidates, Puerto Rico’s Yadier Molina and the Dominican Republic’s Albert Pujols. López does not have either man’s legendary playing stats, but has proven himself to be a cerebral presence and expert communicator. The emotions displayed during his postgame press conferences showed what Houston’s entire organization already knew: López is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is unapologetic in his beliefs.
López managed for 12 seasons in the Astros’ minor-league system before earning a promotion to the major-league staff in 2020. In his current role as Houston’s bench coach, he oversees every aspect of spring training while serving as Espada’s most trusted sounding board. In January, López managed Santurce Cangrejeros to a Puerto Rican winter league title.
“It would be nice to have a triple crown for him this year,” Espada quipped on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, in the immediate aftermath of Venezuela’s win, Espada informed López he could take Wednesday off.
“Take the day, celebrate with your family and that team because you truly deserve it,” Espada said he told him. He promised the club would “celebrate” López upon his return to Astros camp on Thursday.
When he does, focus can return to the 2026 season. However, for a team hesitant to permit any of its players to participate in the WBC, the Astros still savored some of its spotlight. López and his work are more recognized. Two young players gained valuable big-game experience. Daikin Park provided a backdrop for some of the tournament’s biggest stories, including the compelling, coffee-fueled run from Team Italy.
“Felt like I was in the friggin’ playoffs in October,” said Zach Dezenzo, Italy’s designated hitter and one of two Astros players to participate in the tournament.
Three years ago, Houston sent 12 players from its 40-man roster to the WBC. For five seasons in a row, the Astros have boasted more internationally born players than any other Opening Day roster in Major League Baseball. Tournaments like this provide a platform to showcase that.
Failures to obtain insurance, owner Jim Crane’s plea for Carlos Correa to “focus on the team” and Jeremy Peña’s fractured finger ruined plans for a bigger Astros presence. Neither Correa nor Altuve received insurance to play in the WBC.
That Altuve, the sport’s most decorated active Venezuelan player, watched the two biggest games of his country’s history from the second row of seats behind home plate at loanDepot Park is perhaps the only shame of an otherwise stupendous showing.
Peña’s injury happened a day before Team Dominican Republic departed for pool play in Miami. Such is the struggle for anyone who signs up to manage this tournament or construct these teams.
López overcame all of them.