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Baseball has a profound global impact, resonating with people of all different cultures. One country whose strong ties to the sport can sometimes get overlooked is Venezuela. The Land of Grace has produced many great talents over the years like Miguel Cabrera, Jose Altuve, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Johan Santana, but it received recognition for another notable feat during Tuesday's game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals.
Carlos Mendoza and Miguel Cairo both played and worked for the New York Yankees organization at the same time during their respective careers, sharing in a Pinstripes brotherhood that carries a historic tradition. However, the most powerful aspect of their connection is arguably their Venezuelan heritage. They got to bask in national pride together in Washington D.C., as the countrymen made special history in this National League East clash.
When the Mets skipper and Nationals interim skipper led their teams into competition, they became the first two Venezuelan-born managers to face off at the MLB level, via Jomboy Media. Mendoza and Cairo posed for a picture with their lineup cards to mark the occasion and then embraced before returning to their respective dugouts.
Two men who worked hard to make a life in baseball coming together to create a first-time moment for their beloved homeland. Sometimes, it is not just a game. The Mets (67-58) earned an 8-1 victory over the last-place Nationals (50-75), riding an eight-inning David Peterson gem and Jeff McNeil's three-hit/three-RBI outing to their third consecutive win. But this matchup transcends the outcome.
Carlos Mendoza and Miguel Cairo are making history tonight as the first pair of Venezuelan managers to face off in an MLB game 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/fYaH2uxKPC
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 19, 2025
Mets-Nationals game puts spotlight on Venezuela
Both managers explained the significance of venturing into uncharted territory in Nationals Park. “A privilege,” Carlos Mendoza said, per MLB.com's Jessica Camerato. “I’m humbled by it. It’s a big deal back home.”
“I got chills, because it was cool to see countrymen being managers in the big leagues at the same time playing together,” Miguel Cairo admitted. Venezuelans will look to this moment as evidence of the growing influence their country continues to have on the game. And who knows, maybe this is just the first of many series that Mendoza and Cairo will contest against each other.
The latter is now 13-22 since taking over for dismissed 2019 World Series champion Dave Martinez in early July. If the Nats can finish the year strong and give fans hope for 2026, perhaps the organization will allow the former infielder to occupy the position full time. As for Mendoza and the Mets, they are looking to clinch a playoff berth and then contend for a title.
If both of those scenarios come to fruition, Venezuela will have much more to celebrate this fall.
