Tigers' Crespo to manage Spain in WBC Qualifiers

Manny Crespo, the Tigers' director of Latin American player development, will manage Spain in the upcoming Qualifiers for the World Baseball Classic.
Spain's first Qualifier game is scheduled for March 17 against Colombia at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Panama. France and Panama are the other teams in that group, and the winner will advance to the World Baseball Classic in March 2017.
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Crespo previously served as Spain's bench coach when the team finished third in both the 2012 and '14 European Championships. He held the same position for the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifier, which Spain won to advance to the main tournament for the first time.
Crespo is entering his 11th season with the Tigers after also working for the Padres, Yankees and Marlins. He previously played nine seasons in the Minor Leagues, retiring in 1978.