Caracas Lions are searching for a new General Manager. Following the departure of Luis Sojo and Manager José Alguacil, restructuring the front office is the first priority for the organization.
Juan Cristóbal Coronill currently serves as the team’s General Manager, but the baseball operations department is currently without a leader.
Who will be chosen to lead the baseball operations of one of the most popular teams in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League? The Caracas Lions’ leadership has been conducting a discreet search, until now. El Emergente has compiled a list of five experienced baseball executives currently available.
Here’s a gaze at their backgrounds, listed alphabetically:
Emilio Carrasquel served as the General Manager of the Cardenales de Lara for 17 seasons, from 1995-1996 through 2011-2012. During his tenure, the team won three championships between 1997, and 2001. He also worked as a scout for several Major League Baseball organizations, including Seattle and Pittsburgh, eventually becoming an International Scouting Coordinator.
César Collins was part of the front offices of the Águilas and Navegantes during championship runs for both teams (2016-2017 with Zulia, and 2021-2022 with Magallanes). He was appointed General Manager of the Tiburones shortly before the team was sold. He immediately led La Guaira to a runner-up finish and resigned the following season, leaving a roster that would later become Caribbean Series champions with a few adjustments. For the past two seasons, he has been with the Cangrejeros de Santurce, the current champions of Puerto Rico, where he also serves as CEO of the Senadores.
Richard Gómez was the General Manager of the Cardenales from 2012 to 2016, then became Director of Baseball Operations with Lara until 2019. From the 2019-2020 season through 2021-2022, he served as General Manager of the Leones, finishing his time with Caracas as an advisor to the president for one final tournament. He celebrated championships with the Cardenales in 2018-2019 and the Leones in 2022-2023.
Samuel Moscatel assumed the General Manager position with Caribes in 2010, after serving as the director of their development program. He held the position for 14 seasons. Under his leadership, Anzoátegui won four championships and achieved the longest consecutive playoff streak in the LVBP. He resigned two years ago and has remained out of professional baseball since.
Manuel Rodríguez was an assistant to the president of the Tigres, working alongside Rafael Rodríguez Rendón, during the second part of the Tigres dynasty, from the 2007-2008 to 2012-2013 campaigns. In that role, and later as General Manager, he was part of three LVBP championships and a Caribbean Series title. After leaving the Tigres, he held the same position with the Tiburones for two championships. In 2015-2016, he was hired as General Manager of the Bravos, remaining there for three seasons before working as director of the Bravos Baseball Academy. He is currently the General Manager of the Delfines de La Guaira in the Liga Mayor.
César Collins has indicated to El Emergente and other media outlets that there was initial contact between him and the Caracas Lions. However, he clarified that he is currently in negotiations with the Cangrejeros de Santurce, following their recent appearance in the Caribbean Series.
Photo: composition by El Emergente
