Former Met Johan Santana named Team Venezuela's pitching coach for 2026 World Baseball Classic

Former Met Johan Santana is joining Team Venezuela's coaching staff as their pitching coach for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.Santana, who pitched for the Mets from 2008-2012, is a two-time Cy Young award winner and four-time All-Star.

He won both of his Cy Young awards with the Minnesota Twins where he began his career and spent eight seasons.In his first season in New York, the left-hander led MLB with his 2.53 ERA and led the NL with 34 starts and 234.1 innings pitched.

Santana went on to go 46-34 during his career with the Mets and pitched to a 3.18 ERA.

He also threw the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1, 2012 against the St.

Louis Cardinals.Now 46 years old, this will be Santana's first opportunity as a coach for professional players.

And although rosters have not been released yet, some possible pitchers that will play for manager Omar Lopez and Team Venezuela include starters Pablo Lopez, Ranger Suarez, Eduardo Rodriguez and Martin Perez, as well as relievers Jose Alvarado, Robert Suarez, Jose Butto and Brusdar Graterol.With a lineup that could feature players such as Ronald Acuna Jr., Jose Altuve, Salvador Perez, Eugenio Suarez and more like Francisco Alvarez and Luisangel Acuna, Team Venezuela will likely be a formidable team in the tournament..

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