Omar López
Houston Astros – No. 22
Bench Coach
Born: (1977-01-03) January 3, 1977 (age 49)
Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Teams
  • Houston Astros (2020–present)
Career highlights and awards
  • World Series champion (2022)
Medals
Men's baseball
Manager for  Venezuela
World Baseball Classic
Gold medal – first place 2026 Miami Team

Omar E. López (born January 3, 1977) is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player, scout, and manager in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). He is the bench coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB), a role in which he has served since 2024. López has worked in the Astros' organization since 1999. López also managed the Venezuelan national team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the 2024 WBSC Premier12 and the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Baseball career

López played shortstop and third base in Minor League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox organization in 1996 and 1997 and for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in 1998.[1] He then joined the Houston Astros organization in 1999 as a scout and hitting and infield instructor in Venezuela and worked in that capacity until 2007. He recommended that the team sign Jose Altuve when the future MVP was a 16-year-old.[2]

From 2008 to 2019, López managed in the minors for several Astros' affiliates. As manager of the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2010, he was named the Astros' Player Development Man of the Year. In 2013, he led the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits to an 81–57 record and the Midwest League championship.[2][3]

During the 2014–15 season in the winter league Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), López managed the Caribes de Anzoátegui, and, at age 38, was the youngest manager in the league. He led the Caribes to the league championship and earned the Manager of the Year Award.[2]

In his most recent minor league managerial post, López helmed the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, he led the Hooks to an 82–56 record, a postseason qualification, and earned Texas League Manager of the Year honors.[2]

The Astros promoted him to their major league first base coach before the 2020 season.[4] In 2022, the Astros won 106 regular season games, the second-most in franchise history. They won the World Series, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, earning López his first World Series title.[5]

López was named manager of the Venezuela national team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament on August 17, 2022.[6] In the WBC, López won his debut as Venezuela's manager in a 5–1 victory over the Dominican Republic.[7] Venezuela won Pool D with a 4–0 record but were eliminated from the tournament by the United States in the quarterfinals, 9–7.[8]

On December 1, 2023, the Astros named López bench coach.[9]

In 2026, López returned to manage the national team in the World Baseball Classic, leading the squad to its first-ever final and subsequently to its first title in the tournament’s history. Venezuela defeated the United States 3–2 in the final held in Miami on March 17, 2026, marking one of the greatest achievements in Venezuelan baseball. [10][11]

References

  1. ^ "Omar López Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  2. ^ a b c d "Astros coach Omar López to manage Venezuela in 2023 WBC". MLB.com. August 17, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "Astros Front Office Directory | Omar Lopez | Houston Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  4. ^ Rome, Chandler (December 23, 2019). "Astros promote Omar López to first base coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Rome, Chandler (November 5, 2022). "Undisputed: 'It proves we're the best team in baseball ... They have nothing to say now.'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Van Doren, Kenny (August 18, 2022). "Houston Astros first base coach López named Team Venezuela manager". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Leckle, Paige (March 11, 2023). "In clash of titans, Venezuela finally gets Classic win vs. D.R." MLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Turner's slam lifts USA over Venezuela into World Baseball Classic last four". The Guardian. Associated Press. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Kawahara, Matt (December 1, 2023). "Astros name Omar López bench coach, set coaching staff for 2024". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  10. ^ español, RONALD BLUM Leer en (2026-03-17). "Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez's 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title". AP News. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  11. ^ "Spirited Venezuela rallies in 9th to upend USA for 1st Classic championship". MLB.com. Retrieved 2026-03-18.