Omar Vizquel to manage Venezuela at 2017 WBC

Detroit Tigers first base coach Omar Vizquel has been named manager of Team Venezuela for next year's World Baseball Classic.

Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glover and three-time All-Star during his 24-year career in the majors, captained Venezuela during the first Classic in 2006.

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Vizquel has long been a champion of baseball in his native country, and was a natural selection to fill the role. Managing the national squad will also make his resume more attractive should he decide to pursue a head coaching job in the majors one day.

Venezuela, which has already qualified for the 2017 WBC, was eliminated in first-round pool play during the last Classic in 2013. The national team has never finished higher than third at the event.

Miguel Cabrera, Salvador Perez, Carlos Gonzalez, Pablo Sandoval, Anibal Sanchez, and Elvis Andrus are just a few big-league stars that could represent Venezuela in 2017.