Marlins’ Cepeda has key role as Dominican Republic pitching coach in World Baseball Classic
Wellington Cepeda does most of his work away from the limelight.
But that doesn’t make his role with the Miami Marlins any less valuable. Nor does it mean it goes unnoticed inside the organization and beyond.
Cepeda, 49, is entering his fourth season as the Marlins’ bullpen coach, essentially the No. 2 in command on all things pitching behind lauded pitching coach and friend Mel Stottlemyre Jr. It’s a role he ascended to after 19 years in various coaching roles on the minor-league side for the Arizona Diamondbacks before Miami hired him ahead of the 2020 season.
“He’s more help than what people know,” Stottlemyre said. “He is a part of me and a big part of this organization for sure.”
And this spring training, Cepeda could have perhaps one of the most important roles for the Marlins — and that will come during a stretch when he’s not even wearing a Marlins uniform.
Cepeda will be the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic when the World Baseball Classic takes place in March. His presences gives the Marlins trusted eyes and ears over two key pieces of their rotation — ace Sandy Alcantara and veteran Johnny Cueto — while they are away from the club for possibly as long as two weeks as they represent their home country.
The Dominican Republic team, which also includes Marlins infielder Jean Segura, will congregate in Lee County starting on Monday before opening pool play at loanDepot park on March 11 against Venezuela. Pool play runs through March 15 and the tournament goes until March 21, with loanDepot park also hosting one of the two quarterfinals, both semifinals and the championship.
“It’s an honor to represent your country,” said Cepeda, who also served as the assistant pitching coach during the 2009 classic. “We’re going to have a couple of guys from our team. It’s very important for me to be there and take care of them. Hopefully we’ll win it.”
It’s the latest move in Cepeda’s coaching rise.
After a brief playing career that included 13 MLB appearances in 1990 with the Kansas City Royals, Cepeda worked his way up the coaching ranks through the Diamondbacks’ system.
He has stints as pitching coach at just about every one of their affiliates before spending three seasons as a minor-league pitching coordinator and one as the manager of the rookie-level Arizona League Diamondbacks in 2019. Cepeda briefly spent time on the Diamondbacks’ MLB coaching staff in 2013 when rosters expanded that September.
“You learn every year and never stop learning,” Cepeda said. “So coming all the way from when I stopped playing in 2000 and becoming a coach to know, I’ve grown enormously and continue to learn. I love it. This is my passion. This is what I love. I’ll continue to pass my knowledge to guys who are coming up.”
As a bullpen coach, Cepeda’s job is similar to that of a bench coach. He provides the scouting reports and makes sure that everyone — pitcher, catcher, pitching coach and himself — are on the same page with their plan of attack. Most of his work is done pregame. During the game, he’s stationed in the bullpen with the relievers and communications with Stottlemyre via phones in the dugout and the bullpen.
“It’s a different world back there,” Cepeda said, “but I make sure they pay attention to the ballgame and they know what they’re going to do and they have a plan every time. ... Communication between us is very important. Sometimes Mel will call down to the bullpen and ask me ‘What do you think about this guy or this guy?’ I’ll let him know my opinion. They have the final decision, but I’ll let them know what I see.”
His connection with Stottlemyre extends beyond their current stint with the Marlins. The two overlapped at different points in Arizona, and their bond remained even after Stottlemyre left to become the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners and now the Marlins.
That bond became even closer the past three years, and Stottlemyre knows the value Cepeda’s brings to the Marlins even if his work isn’t always recognized or understood externally.
“I can absolutely not even show up and know that in my mind that things are going to get done,” Stottlemyre said. “It’s the trust factor. He knows what I like. He knows my tendencies. He knows when I’m in a good mood. He knows me and I think that’s important. That trust has been built and his experience and his knowledge. He’s been a pitching coach. He’s been a manager. Guys respect him. He’s a great worker. He has the respect and trust from our players as well and that’s important. He’s my eyes. And you’re right. Sometimes those guys don’t get the credit where credit’s due.”
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