Angel Obando, who hasn’t played in the Major Leagues for eight years, nearly led Nicaragua to a historic upset over the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic on March 7. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a two-run lead, Obando allowed three hits, culminating in Ozzie Albies’ walk-off home run, giving the Netherlands a dramatic 4-3 victory. Despite previous struggles, Nicaragua had shown resilience earlier in the tournament, but their hopes were dashed in moments. Obando’s near success turned into a painful lesson in the high stakes of international baseball.
