It is the second week of November, and the Caribbean Winter Baseball Leagues are at full speed in Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. These leagues are currently disputing the Champions that will represent their respective Caribbean Winter Leagues in the Caribbean Series in Mexicali, Mexico, in February.
Speaking of Mexico, the Tomateros de Culiacán have emerged as a formidable championship contender. Leading the Liga Arco del Pacífico with an impressive 20-4 record, the Tomateros have showcased a relentless offensive performance in the league’s first month. This has allowed them to create significant distance from other competitive teams, such as Los Mochis (16-8), Mexicali (13-10), and the defending league champions, Naranjeros de Hermosillo (13-11). Collectively, the Tomateros boast a remarkable slash line of .284/.372/.432 and an OPS of .804, topping the league in these categories. Their success is not limited to offense; they also lead in pitching, with a combined ERA of 2.31 and a batting average against of .214. The team’s offense has been powered by MLB veteran Esteban Quiroz, who is making a strong case for league MVP with a league-leading 5 home runs, .484 OBP, .662 SLG, and 1.156 OPS. On the mound, Manny Barreda has been exceptional, leading the league with 5 wins, 31 innings pitched, and an outstanding 0.58 ERA. While the first part of the season has seen them dominate, Mexico’s league will reset the standings before the playoffs, leaving room for surprises.
Venezuela’s league has also experienced a competitive start. The current league and Caribbean Series champions, Tiburones de La Guaira, are at the top of the standings but face a close race, with three teams—Bravos de Margarita, Aguilas de Zulia, and Tigres de Aragua—just one game behind at 12-9. The top offensive performers in Venezuela have been White Sox prospect Lenyn Sosa, who leads the league with a .431 batting average and .500 OBP, and MLB veteran Renato Nuñez, who leads in slugging (.806), home runs (9), and OPS (1.237).
In the Dominican Republic, a significant event took place as Leones del Escogido and Aguilas Cibaeñas faced off, featuring a managerial battle between old friends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. This match marked the first of many anticipated duels between the future MLB Hall of Famers. Pujols’ Leones have established an early 4-game lead over the reigning champions, Tigres del Licey. Despite this lead, Pujols is cautious, stating that “anything can still happen” and emphasizing that their position is not secure. The Leones have excelled in offense, while the Tigres have led in pitching, highlighting why Pujols remains wary of their competition.
In Puerto Rico, the season kicked off this past Friday with a match between Gigantes de Carolina and Leones de Ponce in Carolina. This season, the Gigantes are dedicating their efforts to Joe Espada, the Houston Astros manager who was named Rookie of the Year in the Puerto Rico league in 1998 while playing for the team. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico’s Criollos de Caguas and Cangrejeros de Santurce are participating in the Choque de Gigantes tournament at LoanDepot Park in Miami, alongside Caracas and Magallanes from Venezuela and Estrellas Orientales from the Dominican Republic. The tournament began Friday, with Estrellas Orientales defeating Cardenales de Lara and Magallanes triumphing over Leones de Caracas. Santurce and Caguas are set to open their seasons on Saturday at LoanDepot Park. This year, the Puerto Rico league is dedicated to Carlos Delgado, who had an illustrious MLB career and proudly represented Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series and the World Baseball Classic.
