The 2024-25 Caribbean Winter League season ended on an impressive note from the club team tournaments at the 2025 Caribbean Series and the first-year event, the 2025 Serie De Las Americas (SDLA) in Nicaragua, which was held in three different venues at Estadio Nacional Soberanía in Managua, Estadio Roberto Clemente in Masaya, and in Estadio Rigoberto López Perez in León.
With the Caribbean Series in Mexicali at El Nido de los Águilas, ending just a little bit over a week ago and the Serie De Las Americas that operated in its first year from January 24-30, international baseball is a big turning point for all of the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Curacao, Colombia, Cuba, Panama, and Argentina that participated in two events.
The 2024-25 champions in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana, the Leones del Escogido, Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, Charros de Jalisco, Liga de Beisbol Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayaguez, Liga Venezolana de Béisbol, Cardenales de Lara, and first-year invitee Japan Breeze that appeared in the 2025 Caribbean Series and the Panama Probeis champion, the Aguilas Metropolitanas, the Liga Profesional De Béisbol Colombia, Caimanes de Barranquilla, the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Nacional in Nicaragua, the Leones de Leon, the 2024 Cuban Serie Nacional champion, Lenadores de Las Tunas, the 2025 Curacao Professional Baseball League champion, Curacao Goats, and 2024 Liga Argentina de Béisbol, Club Daom participating at the 2025 Serie De Las Americas.
From the span of 14 games at the Caribbean Series there were 201,119 fans in attendance at El Nido de los Aguilas in Mexicali, which is just south of the United States and Mexico Border.
The tickets were sold at full capacity for each Mexico night game and the championship game on February 7 but only averaged more than 12,000 for the evening game of each round, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes on Feb. 14.
The 2025 Caribbean Series was a major success for Mexicali, marking its first time hosting the tournament since 2009. Outside El Nido de los Águilas, fans enjoyed a festival featuring live music, local cuisine, rides, and attractions, creating an electric atmosphere throughout the event. The last time Mexicali hosted, the Tigres de Aragua, champions of the 2008-09 Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional, won the title.
The Landscape of Two International Winter Ball Tournaments for the Near Future
The 2025 SDLA event was organized by the Asociación de Béisbol de las Américas.
On Sept. 20, 2024, officials from the Federación Argentina de Béisbol, Federashon di Beisbol Korsou, Panama ProBeis, Federación Nicaragüense de Béisbol Asociada, Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia, and Federación Cubana de Béisbol y Softbol held a press conference in Panama City to announce the creation of the Asociación de Béisbol de las Américas Tournament. The event is intended to provide a competitive platform for teams from nations not invited to the Caribbean Series.
The Latin American Series, held from 2013 to 2019, previously served as a secondary tournament for teams excluded from the Caribbean Series before being discontinued in 2020.
The SDLA’s formation provided an opportunity for club teams that were not invited to the 2025 Caribbean Series, particularly benefiting nations such as Nicaragua, which previously participated in the 2024 event at loanDepot Park in Miami. Other teams that had competed in the main winter ball tournament during this period included Colombia (2020-23), Cuba (2014-19, returning in 2023), Curaçao (2023-24), and Panama (2019-24).
New Teams and the 2026 Caribbean Series Outlook
The 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela, will once again feature Japan Breeze, alongside Cuba’s 2025-26 Serie Nacional champion. South Korea will send a team composed of minor league and main roster players from the Korean Baseball Organization, forming an All-Star squad. Italy’s participation will be determined by either the 2025 Serie A1 champion or an assembled All-Star team, a scouting platform for 2026 World Baseball Classic roster additions.
Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase and Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes confirmed that Cuba, South Korea, Italy, and Japan Breeze will participate in the 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas, reporting the news on Feb. 3.
Vía @Enrique_Rojas1: Japan Breeze aseguró su participación en la Serie del Caribe del 2026. También hay negociaciones con la KBO (Corea del Sur) e Italia para que participen tan pronto como el año que viene.
También dice que la SDC del 2026 está pautada para Gran Caracas y se…
— Daniel Álvarez-Montes (@DanielAlvarezEE) February 4, 2025
Rojas said Feb. 14 that KBO officials met with the CBPC in Mexicali and that Commissioner Juan Puello Herrera plans to travel to Italy and South Korea in the coming months for further discussions on the proposal.
The Confederación de Peloteros del Caribe and the Federación Nacional de Peloteros Profesionales de la República Dominicana representatives Yamil Benitez and Erick Almonte spoke at a press conference in front of media outlets at the 2025 Caribbean Series before the start of the championship game on February 7 about the logistics for going into the 2025-26 winter league season and the 2026 event being in Caracas.
World Baseball Network’s Leif Skodnick reported that Yamil Benitez, president of CONPEPROCA, said he had no concerns about the 2026 event being held in Caracas. “Yes, there are challenges. It’s not a secret. In my case, as a Puerto Rican, an American citizen, at the 2023 Caribbean Series, when I arrived in Venezuela, I was surprised because I thought it was [going to be different getting] in the country there in Venezuela, in Caracas and it was not like that. It was so pleasant. On the first day, we had security, and after the first day we were walking in Venezuela as if nothing had happened.”
Expansion, Exhibition Series, and Future Logistics
CONEPEPROCA and FENAPEPRO must also address logistical challenges from two recent events.
The Choques de Gigantes was held at loanDepot Park in Miami from Nov. 8-10 during the past winter league season. The event featured Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional franchises Leones del Caracas, Navegantes del Magallanes, and the 2024-25 league champion, Cardenales de Lara. It also included Cangrejeros de Santurce and Criollos de Caguas from Puerto Rico’s Liga de Beisbol Roberto Clemente, as well as the Estrellas Orientales from LIDOM.
The Titanes del Caribe series was originally scheduled for Yankee Stadium from Nov. 8-9, with a third game at Citi Field on Nov. 10, featuring the Tigres del Licey and Aguilas Cibaeñas from LIDOM.
Promoters Felix Cabrera of Felix Cabrera Presents and Pedro Zamora of Zamora Live opted not to pay the New York Yankees’ $2 million ballpark lease fee, deeming the cost too high. Instead, they moved two games from the Bronx to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they were played Dec. 7-8 during the 2024-25 season.
The 2024 Titanes del Caribe “La Revancha” series was played at Citi Field on Nov. 10 before 30,795 fans. The Aguilas Cibaeñas defeated the Tigres del Licey 3-2 on a game-winning single to the left side of the infield by pinch hitter Bladimir Restituyo in the bottom of the ninth inning.
CONEPEPROCA and FENAPEPRO will need to evaluate several logistical factors over the next few months, including the 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas and whether the two exhibition series will be played at neutral sites in the United States after the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
The four members of the Confederación de Beisbol Profesional del Caribe—Venezuela’s LVBP, the Dominican Republic’s LIDOM, Puerto Rico’s LBPRC, and Mexico’s LAMP—will compete in the 2026 Caribbean Series. Confirmed venues for the tournament include Estadio Simon Bolivar, Estadio Forum de La Guaira, and Estadio Universitario in Caracas. In addition to the four league champions, Japan Breeze, South Korea, Italy, and Cuba will also participate, bringing the total number of teams to eight.
Junior Matrille, Gigantes del Cibao press coordinator and Baseball Writers’ Association of America member, reported on his Instagram on Feb. 8 that the Caribbean Series will be held in Caracas in 2026, Hermosillo in 2027, Miami with the Dominican Republic as the representative in 2028, San Juan in 2029, and Caracas again in 2030.
Rojas also said on Feb. 14,” In July last year, the Venezuelan government cut diplomatic relations with several countries, including the Dominican Republic, questioning the controversial election results that President Nicolás Maduro used to stay in power. By expelling the Dominican consular mission from Caracas and withdrawing its staff in Santo Domingo, Venezuela essentially broke its historical ties with the Dominican Republic. For many analysts, the participation for the Dominican Republic in the next Caribbean Series will be difficult if the current situation persists for next February. However, baseball people are optimistic about it.”
Telerebelde reported on its Telegram channel on Feb. 12 that logistics for the 2027 Caribbean Series in Hermosillo have been finalized.
“#BREAKING MINUTE.CUBA INVITED TO THE 2027 CARIBBEAN SERIES#. HERMOSILLO. MEXICO. Excellent news for Cuban baseball to participate in two consecutive Caribbean Series.The 2027 Caribbean Series, which will be held in Hermosillo, Sonora, will feature the participation of ten teams. This year, the four traditional teams will be included: Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. In addition, Japan will be added again, as well as Cuba, Nicaragua and Panama, along with the novelty of having the participation of Italy and South Korea. On the other hand, the competition format will undergo significant changes. Without a doubt, this edition is expected to be the best of the Caribbean Series. “
No additional information has been released about the 2027 Caribbean Series in Hermosillo at Estadio Fernando Valenzuela by Spanish-language media outlets in the United States or Latin America.
The only remaining question is whether CBPC Commissioner Juan Puello Herrera will announce any additional club invitees for future Caribbean Series events in the coming months.
Before making their debut at the 2025 event in Mexicali, the Japan Breeze played against the Liga Venezolana All-Stars at Estadio Simon Bolivar on Dec. 10, losing 3-1. They did not participate in any winter league during the 2024-25 season.
The Japan Breeze first announced their participation in the 2025 Caribbean Series at a press conference held at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Tower in Yokohama, Japan, on July 31, 2024. In attendance were Japan Breeze general manager Toma Irokawa, Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe Commissioner Juan Francisco Puello Herrera, and Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico President Carlos Manrique.
Under manager Alex Ramirez, the Japan Breeze’s 2025 Caribbean Series roster featured players from Japan’s industrial and independent leagues, including the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League Plus, the Oita B-Rings of the Yamae Group Kyushu Asia League, the Kanagawa Future Dreams, the Tochigi Golden Braves, the Ibaraki Astro Planets, and the Gunma Diamond Pegasus of the Baseball Challenge League. Additional players came from Honda of the Japanese Industrial League, operated by the Japan Amateur Baseball Association, the Sakai Strikes of the Kansai Independent League, and the Ishikari Red Phoenix of the Hokkaido Frontier League. The team also included players with experience in Major League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball, its minor leagues, and semi-professional circuits.
After going winless at the 2025 Caribbean Series, the Japan Breeze must evaluate their next steps for the winter league season. Options include participating in leagues such as the Asia Winter Baseball League in Taiwan, the Phoenix League, or the California Winter League. Another possibility is aligning their schedule with a series of exhibitions against CBPC member clubs to prepare for high-level competition at the 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela.
Past Invitee Teams to the Caribbean Series by the CBPC
Nicaragua became the second team to go winless at the Caribbean Series as an invitee. The Vegueros de Pinar del Río remain the only invitee team to finish at .500, posting a 3-3 record before defeating the 2014-15 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico champion, Tomateros de Culiacán, 3-2 in the 2015 Caribbean Series championship game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Colombia went winless in 2020 when the Vaqueros de Montería finished 0-5, marking the first time an invitee team failed to win a game in Caribbean Series history.
Curaçao did not have a 2022-23 regular season before competing in the 2023 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela, where they finished 2-5 in seventh place.
The Federales de Chiriquí were also invited to the 2021 Caribbean Series in Mazatlán, Mexico, at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal. They did not have a 2020-21 winter league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lost 4-3 in the semifinals to the 2021-22 LIDOM champion Águilas Cibaeñas on Carlos Paulino’s game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Two invitee teams have won the Caribbean Series. The Toros de Herrera won the 2019 tournament at Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, defeating the Leñadores de Las Tunas 3-1 for the country’s second championship. The Caimanes de Barranquilla made history in 2022 by defeating the 2021-22 LIDOM champion Gigantes del Cibao 4-1 at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The 2024 Panamá Probeis champion, Federales de Chiriquí, defeated the 2023 Curaçao Professional Baseball League champion, Curaçao Suns, 5-4 at loanDepot Park in Miami during the 2024 Caribbean Series. The Japan Breeze, the only invitee to go winless, finished 0-4 in Mexicali in their first appearance at the event.
The Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia (LPBC) was not invited to the 2024 Caribbean Series in Miami after failing to pay a $200,000 participation fee to enter as a guest. The league had previously claimed it was promised full CBPC membership. Instead, the LPBC champion was slated to participate in a new Intercontinental Series organized by the Team Rentería Foundation at Estadio Édgar Rentería in Barranquilla in January 2024, but the event was ultimately canceled.
Pedro Salzedo Salom, president of División Profesional del Béisbol Colombiano, issued the official statement confirming LPBC’s exclusion from the 2024 Caribbean Series on April 25, 2023.
Estimados periodistas, medios de comunicación y opinión pública.
Compartimos comunicado oficial de la Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombiano, respecto al tema SERIE DEL CARIBE – 2024. pic.twitter.com/Qpx08M0nGe— Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombiano (@LPB_COL) April 25, 2023
The Winter League Agreement (WLA) between CBPC and MLB plays a major role in determining player participation during the Major League Baseball offseason (link).
Without approval from MLB owners, players cannot participate in tournaments not covered under the WLA, such as Serie de las Américas. As a result, securing top prospects and major league talent for such events remains challenging. Unless all 30 MLB franchises and the commissioner’s office agree to allow players from 40-man and active rosters to compete in additional winter league games, these tournaments will struggle to attract top-tier talent—especially with spring training and pitchers and catchers reporting soon after.
ABAM Logistics For 2026 SDLA Event With Current Committee
The Instituto Nicaragüense de Deportes played a key role in organizing the 2025 Serie de las Américas alongside ABAM officials. These officials, whose positions are listed below, attended a press conference on Sept. 20, 2024, in Panama City, Panama.
Former Panamá Probeis Winter League president David Salayanda was elected president of ABAM.
The vice presidents of ABAM include FCB President Juan Reinaldo Pérez, FENIBA President Nemesio Porras, FEBEKO President Jedrek Magdalena, ProBeis President and former Major League Baseball player Carlos Lee, Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia President Pedro Salzedo, and FAB President Roberto Braccini.
The ABAM board of directors consists of Secretary Alex Delgado, Treasurer Luis Villalaz, and Legal Advisor Kodiro Miranda. The organization’s public relations representatives are Luis Daniel Del Risco and Carlos Van Cauwlaert.
Delgado is the vice president of FENIBA. Miranda is the director of operations and tournaments for LPBC in Colombia. Villalaz, a certified public accountant in Panama, also managed logistics for the 2025 SDLA in Nicaragua.
Del Risco is the treasurer of FCB, while Van Cauwlaert serves as a part-time advisor for FAB.
Additionally, División Profesional del Béisbol Colombiano operates Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia, while the Federación Panameña de Béisbol does not operate the ProBeis Panamá Winter League.
According to Aurelio Ortiz González of COS Panamá on Sept. 20, FENIBA President Nemesio Porras stated during the ABAM press conference that hosting a tournament of this size entails costs exceeding $150,000 for the host country, in addition to the expenses incurred by each participating league.
The ABAM committee announced plans to hold the tournament during the 2025-26 winter league season at Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panamá, with the 2026-27 edition set for January or early February at Estadio Édgar Rentería in Barranquilla, Colombia.
No confirmed dates have been announced by ABAM for the 2026 and 2027 Serie de las Américas (SDLA).
A report from Baseball de Cuba on Dec. 17, 2024, stated: “For the subsequent period from 2028 to 2030, venues in Cuba, Curaçao, and Argentina are anticipated to be confirmed for those editions.”
As of now, no other sources, including ABAM, have confirmed dates or locations for SDLA beyond 2027.
The potential for international baseball expansion remains high. The Serie de las Américas winner could eventually serve as a stepping stone to enter the Caribbean Series, with discussions ongoing about expanding both tournaments to include additional countries.
The baseball powerhouses of Aruba and the Bahamas could be viable contenders for club teams, whether privately operated or supported by their national federations, if they consistently produce Major League Baseball-caliber talent in the Caribbean.
The 2024-25 winter league season was particularly notable for Álvaro Ley López, former president of the Board of Directors of Tomateros de Culiacán. Under his leadership, Tomateros won six Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico championships and captured two Caribbean Series titles in 1996 and 2002 while representing Mexico.
López also played a crucial role in MLB’s 2001 negotiations with the winter leagues and the Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe (CBPC) to establish the Winter League Agreement (WLA). His contributions helped shape the current structure of international baseball, and his influence continues to impact both the Serie de las Américas and Caribbean Series, as these tournaments look to expand ahead of spring training in the United States, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
