Who had the best career? Ranking Classic's quarterfinal managers as players

Managing in the World Baseball Classic is tricky. Teams are full of stars, sometimes adjusting to new positions. There are pitch-count rules. There are complex tiebreakers. And most importantly, there’s the tension of leading a national team in a high-pressure situation where the entire country might second-guess a decision.

Now that we’re in the quarterfinals, the stakes get higher in a single-elimination event. The microscope will be intensified with every managerial decision.

The eight skippers of the quarterfinalists were all players before putting on their managerial caps. Let’s rank them purely based on their playing career.

1. Albert Pujols, Dominican Republic
Notable: 22 MLB seasons, 3,384 hits, 703 homers, 101.3 WAR, 3-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, 2-time World Series champion

Well, this was an easy choice for the top spot. The Dominicans have one of the greatest players in MLB history leading their team. When he becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot in 2028, Pujols should get in immediately, deserving a unanimous selection. Before leading the D.R. in the WBC, Pujols was a candidate to become the manager of the Angels. Perhaps this role will give him the itch to pursue other openings.

2. Yadier Molina, Puerto Rico
Notable: 19 MLB seasons, 2,168 hits, 176 homers, 41.7 WAR, 10-time All-Star, 9 Gold Gloves, 2-time World Series champion

Molina has a reasonable chance to join Pujols in Cooperstown as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2028.

While he was a solid hitter, he will forever be known as one of the greatest defensive catchers in history. His nine Gold Gloves behind the plate trail only Hall of Famers Pudge Rodriguez and Johnny Bench.

3. Hirokazu Ibata, Japan
Notable: 17 seasons in Japan (NPB), 1,912 hits, 56 homers, 510 RBIs, 149 stolen bases, .352 OBP

While he didn’t play in MLB, Ibata’s 1,912 hits is quite a feat. Only 345 Major Leaguers have had more. Ibata was named to Japan’s “Best Nine” five times and won the Mitsui Golden Glove Award as a shortstop seven times.

4. Ernie Whitt, Canada
Notable: 15 MLB seasons, 938 hits, 134 homers, 18.3 WAR, 1-time All-Star

Whitt is a Hall of Famer. Just not the one in Cooperstown. In 1997, the catcher was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, thanks to his solid tenure with the Blue Jays, the club where he played 12 of his 15 MLB seasons. And a decade later -- along with MLB Hall of Famer Larry Walker -- he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball HOF.

Whitt had a commendable career, highlighted by a 3.4-WAR season in 1983 and an appearance in the 1985 All-Star Game.

5. Francisco Cervelli, Italy
Notable: 13 MLB seasons, 605 hits, .358 OBP, 14.1 WAR, 1-time World Series champion

Cervelli is best remembered for being Jorge Posada’s backup on the 2009 World Champion Yankees, but his career was much more than that. He played 13 seasons in the Majors and had a 3.5-WAR season in 2015. Before managing Team Italy, he also played for the Azzurri in the 2009 and ‘17 Classics, appearing in seven games.

6. Mark DeRosa, USA
Notable: 16 MLB seasons, 975 hits, 100 homers, 494 RBIs, 10.6 WAR

DeRosa was best known for his versatility. He is one of only seven players in history to play at least 50 games at 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF and RF (an achievement that includes Puerto Rico’s Kiké Hernández and MLB’s all-time leader in pinch-hits, Lenny Harris). He also finished his career with exactly 100 home runs, a list that includes John Kruk and DeRosa’s MLB Network colleague, Yonder Alonso.

7. Ji-Hyun Ryu, Korea
Notable: 11 seasons in Korea (KBO), 64 homers, 379 RBIs, .377 OBP

Ryu spent his entire career playing for the LG Twins in the KBO. His best season actually came as a rookie when he hit .305 (tied for the second-best mark of his career) with a career-high 15 homers and 51 RBIs (the third-best total of his career). He never quite achieved that level of success again.

8. Omar López, Venezuela
Notable: Played professionally in the White Sox and D-backs’ organizations, reaching A-ball

López played three seasons of professional baseball. His best came in 1997 when he hit .276 with a .369 OBP with 23 RBI for the Rookie-level Bristol White Sox. This list would have been totally different if Venezuela’s hitting coach were the manager. You might have heard of him -- his name is Miguel Cabrera.