Nicaraguan Marvin Benard, a former professional MLB player, is the new head coach of Spain’s baseball team. He played nine seasons (from 1995 to 2003) with the San Francisco Giants as an outfielder. After his retirement he began his career as a coach. Now, at 56 years of age, he takes charge of the Spanish team after having coached Nicaragua.
With the San Francisco Giants he was a starter between 1999 and 2001. He has the honor of having hit the Giants’ last home run at Candlestick Park (30-9-1999 against the Los Angeles Dodgers) before moving to Oracle Park.
As a free agent in 2003, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, but was released before the season began and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
His coaching career began as hitting coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils during the 2015 season. In 2016 he went on to coach Nicaragua’s national team and came close to qualifying for the World Classic. He also managed Gigantes de Rivas in the 2024 Caribbean Series.
“The new coach takes over with the Premier12 qualifier in Barcelona in mind. He will attend events organized by the RFEBS around the LNBDH Oro 2026 such as the Copa del Rey and the All-Star Game in order to see in person the players of our league, as well as the concentrations of the national U-23 team,” announced the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation
Spain will have to face Colombia, Italy and Germany in the Qualifier for the WBSC Premier12 2027 at the Carlos Perez de Rozas Municipal Baseball Field from October 9 to 11, with the top two advancing to the WBSC Premier12 2027 Opening Round
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