The 6th Caribbean Cup, operated by the World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas sector, started on October 23 and will run until October 28 at Andre Rodgers Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
World Baseball Network had the chance to talk to the Secretary General of the Bahamas Baseball Association, Theodore Sweeting, about what it means for the country to host the tournament for the second time and the Caribbean Baseball Confederation that also authorizes from the WBSC Americas sector and Jazz Chisholm playing in the World Series becoming the second born Bahamian player to be in the Fall Classic.
Chisholm was with the Bahamas national team when Andre Rodgers first opened its door during the 2022 Caribbean Cup in December for the opening ceremony and separate games in the tournament.
All the 2024 Caribbean Cup games will be seven innings.
COCABE is part of the WBSC Americas sector and operates the Caribbean Cup annually.
COCABE announced the schedule on September 11 for the 2024 Caribbean Cup.
The Bahamas last hosted the 2022 Caribbean Cup in December, the first event at Andre Rodgers Stadium.
Bahamas is ranked No. 47 in the World Baseball Rankings from the WBSC.
The Caribbean Cup will affect the WBR from the WBSC.
The Bahamas Baseball Association President Samuel E. Rodgers Sr., Vice President Joseph Moss, and Secretary General Theodore Sweeting played a big part in organizing the event by negotiating the event and finalizing the process to have the 2024 Caribbean Cup under Secretary General of COCABE, Manuel Frias approval.
Bahamas manager Geron Sands will lead the national team at the 6th Caribbean Cup. The Dominican Republic will have manager Rafael Garcia, Curacao with Hainley Statia, Cuba with Alexander Urquiola, Mervin Gario with Sain Maarten and Kenny Jackson with the United States Virgin Islands at the helm during the 6th Caribbean Cup in the Bahamas.
Sands will have bench coach Albert Cartwright, assistant coach Mario Ford, Kenneth Adderley, and pitching coordinator Donovan Cox under his assistance for the Bahamas national team.
The 2025 Caribbean Cup will be a qualifier event for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The 2024 Caribbean Cup will be streamed live with a paid subscription on https://r1live.com/en.
Andre Rodgers Stadium will host their Opening Ceremony of the Caribbean Cup on October 23 at 7 p.m. ET.
The Bahamas will play the United States Virgin Islands in their first game of the 2024 Caribbean Cup at 7:30 p.m. ET at Andre Rodgers Stadium.
Bahamas Baseball Association Secretary General Teddy Sweeting Q&A:
A: The Bahamas is extremely excited to be hosting the sixth Caribbean Cup. It gives us an opportunity to showcase the talent now and for the future that is being developed within the country. Many of our young ballplayers who are playing in minor league baseball are returning home to represent their country with wearing the Bahamas across their chest at one of the highest levels of baseball. When the opportunity arises, and we can get the approvals required, we will move forward with that opportunity to host the Caribbean Cup and look forward to hosting other major events to continue building our major facilities to be able to host a World Cup in the future.
A: The future is bright for the country. We love sports. Our Prime Minister Philip Davis stated in one of his interviews that baseball is his favorite sport. We get a lot of sport from that sound point from our leader that gives us that push that is needed to get us above and beyond. As we propel towards the future because were lucky that 2025 is the Central American and Caribbean Games Qualifier, and hopefully that, the Bahamas can look at where they are from that standpoint alongside the opportunity to play in the World Baseball Classic with their qualifier stage. The goal now is for the Bahamas to work with its national team for the next stage and to put the Bahamas in the WBCQ, which will allow our ballplayers to play with us instead of playing for Great Britain.
A: When you look at an individual like Jazz Chisholm, who has grown up in the development program of baseball in the Bahamas over the last 20 years, he is what you call about fixture and he has come right out of all the programs in the country. Were excited and proud to see him now move to the World Series and becoming the second Bahamian player to play in the Fall Classic joining the late Cincinnati Reds utility player Ed Armbrister, who helped the franchise win back-to-back WS championships in 1975-76.
Were excited that Jazz is prepared to host his foundation’s, the Jazz Chisholm Little League baseball program which gets started in November. We had a very successful run of it last year, and he is continuing through his foundation. It’s an exciting thing for the young and upcoming baseball players as they prepare for their season in 2025 during January. The fall for them was a resting period to travel with the family prior to the program starting. Jazz came out of the baseball programs from 20 years ago and a lot of the young players know him personally. That is a huge plus for them to know Jazz and where he is in baseball.
2024 Caribbean Cup Schedule
All game start times are Eastern Daylight Time
(WBSC Ranking)(WBSC Americas Ranking)
Thursday, October 24
Dominican Republic vs. Cuba – 11:00 a.m. EDT
U.S. Virgin Islands vs. Curacao – 3:00 p.m. EDT
St. Maarten vs. Bahamas – 7:00 p.m. EDT
Friday, October 25
Cuba vs. United States Virgin Islands – 11:00 a.m. EDT
St. Maarten vs. Dominican Republic – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Bahamas vs. Curacao – 7:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, October 26
U.S. Virgin Islands vs. Dominican Republic – 11:00 a.m. EDT
Curacao vs. St. Maarten – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Bahamas vs. Cuba – 7:00 p.m. EDT
Sunday, October 27
St. Maarten vs. U.S. Virgin Islands – 11:00 a.m. EDT
Curacao vs. Cuba – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Dominican Republic vs. Bahamas – 7:00 p.m. EDT
Monday, October 28
Bronze Medal Game – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Gold Medal Game – 7:00 p.m. EDT
