Juan Montes of Team Nicaragua celebrates after hitting a double against Team Venezuela during the seventh inning in a World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Montes could be back at loanDepot Park for the 2024 Caribbean Series in February. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The Federacion Nicaraguense de Beisbol Asociada is in the process of having foreign players suit up for the 2024 Caribbean Series in Miami at loanDepot Park from February 1-9, Nicaraguan reporter of 8DeportivoTN8 Fernando Rayo reported on August 7.
The Federacion Nicaraguense de Beisbol Asociada has not announced their roster process for the 2024 Caribbean Series.
Canal 4 Nicaragua reporter Paolo Araquistain reported on his Facebook page August 7 that the Nicaraguan team for the 2024 Caribbean Series will have seven foreign players on the roster for the event, and the team will be known as Nicaragua, rather than by the name of the winning team from the German Pomares Ordonez League.
The German Pomares Ordonez League will end with the championship series in early September. Players from that league will be signed to play in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional’s 2023-24 season shortly after.
“There are several events that in the past we dreamed of being a part of, and one of them was the Caribbean Series,” FENIBA Technical Director Carlos Alfaro told World Baseball Network on WhatsApp. “Right now in Nicaragua, everybody is so excited for this opportunity, and we are very optimistic that we will do a great job in it.”
Nicaragua will be participating in the Caribbean Series for the first time when they take the field on February 1, 2024 against Puerto Rico’s Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente champion at 10:30 a.m. EST.
“Playing in the WBC in front of thousands of Nicaraguan fans was very fun, and also it motivated the players to do a great job. Just like in the other events, there’s a lot of respect for Nicaragua´s baseball,” Alfaro told World Baseball Network.
The 2023-24 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional season will start on November 3, and the Caribbean Series roster will be built with domestic and foreign players as reinforcements for the event.
Seven or eight foreign players will be allowed on each of the five teams’ rosters for the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional.
The five teams participating will be all returning from the 2022-23 Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional season: Indios del Bóer, Tren del Norte, Leonés de León, Tigres de Chinandega, and Gigantes de Rivas.
There will be seven teams in the 2024 Caribbean Series, with one team sitting out each day during the pool round from February 1-7. Nicaragua will have an off day on Saturday, February 3, 2024, during the Caribbean Series.
The Caribbean Series semifinals will be on February 8 and the championship game will be on February 9.
The 2024 Caribbean Series will be televised on ESPN Deportes through the final out of the championship game, and it will be the first time that event is in a Major League Baseball stadium.
Jonathan Loaisiga will not pitch for Nicaragua in the 2024 Caribbean Series, La Prensa from Nicaragua reported on August 14.
“Right now, I tell you no. I’m coming back from an injury, I’m focused on preparing to pitch 25 innings that I don’t see as difficult because there is a month and a half left in the season. I think I’m going to rest and prepare much better for the coming season,” Loaisiga told La Prensa in a story translated from Spanish.
This will be Nicargua’s third club event in the history of their nation participating in the western hemisphere. Nicaragua participated in the Latin American Series that was held from 2013-19 and the Interamericana Series from 1961-64.
Nicaraguan Teams That Participated In Notable Club Series
Interamericana Series
1964 – Tigres del Cinco Estrellas
Latin American Series
2017 – Tigres de Chinandega
2018 – Tigres de Chinandega
2019 – Leones de León
Nicaragua 2024 Caribbean Series Schedule
All Games At loanDepot Park, Miami, Florida.
All times Eastern Standard Time.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
10:30 a.m. – Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico
Friday, February 2, 2024
3:30 p.m. – Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua
Sunday, February 4, 2024
10:30 a.m. – Panama vs. Nicaragua
Monday, February 5, 2024
10:30 a.m. – Nicaragua vs. Curacao
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
10:30 a.m. – Mexico vs. Nicaragua
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
8:30 p.m. – Nicaragua vs. Venezuela
Thursday, February 8, 2024
3 p.m. – Semifinal 1
8 p.m. – Semifinal 2
Friday, February 9, 2024
3 p.m. – Third-place Game
8 p.m. – Championship Game