Tigers sign Nicaraguan pitcher who dominated MLB All-Stars in World Baseball Classic

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The Dominican Republic defeated Nicaragua like they were supposed to, 6-1, in the World Baseball Classic on Monday to win their first game of the tournament. But the biggest story came from the losing team. 

Nicaragua's Duque Hebbert stole the show in the top of the ninth inning when he took the mound and struck out MLB All-Stars Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez and Rafael Devers.

That performance led the Detroit Tigers to offer the 21-year-old a contract before he left LoanDepot Park in Miami on Monday night. He reportedly signed the dotted line.

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Duque Hebbert #62 of Team Nicaragua pitches during Game 5 of Pool D between Team Dominican Republic and Team Nicaragua at LoanDepot Park on Monday, March 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Tigers scout Luis Molina found Hebbert after the game, spoke to him and asked a few questions, and finally offered him a minor league contract, per ESPN, which was told to the team bus once everything was settled.

"He showed what he is made of," Nicaragua manager Sandor Guido said through an interpreter via ESPN. "When you have will, when you have heart, you can do very good things."

While the WBC is all about some of the best players in the game wearing their country’s colors and competing for global glory in baseball, it also shows the unheralded players from countries that are not supposed to be true contenders. Nicaragua is among those teams with solid players, but the talent level compared to teams like the Dominican Republic doesn’t match.

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