The new year is here. That means the countdown to the 2025 Caribbean Series has reached one month. In one month, the champions from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and a guest team from Japan will dispute the Caribbean Championship in Mexicali. That means the Winter League’s postseason in the countries is in full swing.
The Round Robin to crown a new league champion began this week in Venezuela. Cardenales de Lara, who led the regular season standings with a record of 33-23, has continued that success into the postseason round-robin by winning the round’s first five contests. Although their pitching has not been as dominant as in the regular season, Cardenales has depended on solid offensive output from Ildemaro Vargas, Danry Vazquez, and Harold Castro, who are the Round Robin’s offensive leaders. Vargas has been the most lethal hitter in the Round Robin, collecting nine hits in 21 Round Robin at-bats for an average of .429. Castro, on the other hand, as well as teammate Jermaine Palacios, both lead the Round Robin with 2 HR. Aguilas de Zulia, who finished the regular season in third place, currently ranks second in the Venezuelan Round Robin. Aguilas have been winning their games in a different fashion than Cardenales, as they have depended on solid collective pitching. In four Round Robin games, Aguila’s pitching staff has pitched masterfully, as their pitchers have combined for a collective 1.80 ERA in 35 Round Robin innings while striking out 24 and keeping their opposition to 1.06 WHIP. They have also held their opposition to a batting average of .238, all of which led the league so far. The round-robin in Venezuela continues this week.
Another league that has begun its postseason in a Round Robin format is LIDOM in the Dominican Republic. The Round Robin is in its early stages in the Dominican Republic, as all teams have only played two games so far; on the first day of Round Robin, two veterans, Robinson Cano and Cesar Valdez, delivered victories for their team. Cano has been an offensive force for regular season leaders Estrellas Orientales as he has connected six hits and one home run in the first two games of the Round Robin. Conversely, Valdez was instrumental in Tigres del Licey’s first win, pitching six scoreless innings against their rival Aguilas Cibaeñas.
Mexico’s playoffs have also begun, but those league playoffs are being played in a quarterfinal format. Three out of the four quarterfinals in Mexico are tied at one game per team. Only Tomateros de Culiacan opened a 2-0 lead against Venados de Mazatlán. All other series involving Hermosillo vs. Obregon, Mexicali vs. Jalisco, and Guasave vs. Los Mochis are all deadlocked at one game per team. They have been a very competitive series dominated by pitching and timely hitting by both teams.
The only league yet to begin its playoffs is the Puerto Rico league, which already has defined three of its four semifinalists. Indios de Mayaguez, Senadores de San Juan, and Cangrejeros de Santurce have already clinched their places in the semifinals. The last playoff spot is currently being disputed between the three remaining teams, Leones de Ponce, defending champions Criollos de Caguas and Gigantes de Carolina. The teams have been signing some talent for their playoff push. MLB veterans Kennys Vargas (Criollos), Christian Vazquez, and Fernando Cruz (Santurce) have been signed by their respective teams for the playoff push.
The month of January promises to bring all sorts of emotions and great moments considering how competitive the league playoffs have been so far. The Caribbean Series will begin in less than one month in Mexicali from January 31 through February 7, where a new Caribbean Champion will be crowned.
