By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Liga Profesional de Beisbol Colombiano team Vaqueros de Monteria will make their second appearance in the Caribbean Series.
Vaqueros was the first team from Colombia to appear in the Caribbean Series, playing at the 2020 event which was held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico – their first year as a franchise.
Vaqueros is the only team in the Liga Profesional de Beisbol Colombiano that has played in every final of their league since the first year of the franchise. Vaqueros manager Ronald Ramirez will look to capture the country of Colombia’s second Caribbean Series title, following Caimanes de Barranquilla’s win last year over Gigantes del Cibao out of the Liga de Beisbol Profesional de la Republica Dominicana in the 2022 Caribbean Series final.
Vaqueros players who were on last year’s Caimanes team are 2022 Caribbean Series MVP Reynaldo Rodriguez, Brayan Buelvas, Dilson Herrera, Andres Angulo, Dayan Frias, along with pitcher Eduar Lopez, and will be expected to bring Caribbean Series experience to the Vaqueros dugout.
The Caribbean Series will run from February 2-10 in Caracas and La Guaira, Venezuela, at Estadio De La Rinconada in Caracas and Estadio Forum in La Guaira. Colombia’s first game will be against Puerto Rico at 3 p.m. on February 2 on ESPN Deportes.
During the regular season, Vaqueros finished second, one game behind Tigres de Cartagena.
Vaqueros has a solid roster that could be a favorite in the seven team field this Caribbean Series. This is the first time that the field of the Caribbean Series has expanded to eight teams since the original Caribbean Series’ run 1949 to 1960.
This could be a big test for the Caribbean Series, let alone the roster to build for Colombia manager Jolbert Cabrera during the World Baseball Classic in March starting on March 11-15 in Pool C for the national team going up against United States, Great Britain, Mexico, and Canada. Colombia’s first game of the World Baseball Classic will be against Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix at 2:30 p.m. EST on Fox.
Vaqueros de Monteria 2023 Caribbean Series Schedule
Thursday, February 2 – vs. Puerto Rico, 3 p.m., Estadio Forum La Guaira
Friday, February 3 – vs. Panama, 1 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Saturday, February 4 – vs. Mexico 3 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Sunday, February 5 – vs. Curacao 1 p.m., Estadio Forum La Guaira
Monday, February 6 – vs. Cuba 10:30 a.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Tuesday, February 7 – vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Wednesday, February 8 – vs. Venezuela, 7:30 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Caribbean Series Playoffs
Thursday February 9 – Third Seed vs. Second Seed, 3:30 p.m., Estadio Forum La Guaira
Fourth Seed vs. First Seed, 7:30 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Friday February 10 – Third Place Game, 2:30 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Championship Game, 7:30 p.m., Estadio De La Rinconada
Vaqueros de Monteria Caribbean Series Roster
Pitchers (2023 LPBC Team)
Carlos Diaz (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Kevin Escorcia (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Hernando Mejia (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Hugo Beltran (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Julio Vivas (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Francisco Lopez (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Francisco Jimenez (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Samuel Burgos (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Eduar Lopez (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Randy Consuegra (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Carlos Quevedo (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Oscar Marcelino (Tigres de Cartagena)
Victor Vargas (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Yelmison Peralta (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Jhon Peluffo (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Catchers (2023 LPBC Team)
Daniel Vellojin (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Pabel Manzanero (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Andres Angulo (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Infielders (2023 LPBC Team)
Fabian Pertuz (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Reynaldo Rodriguez (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Francisco Acuna (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Dilson Herrera (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Dayan Frias (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Outfielders (Team)
Derwin Pomare (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Gustavo Campero (Caimanes de Barranquilla)
Jesus Marriaga (Tigres de Cartagena)
Brayan Buelvas (Vaqueros de Monteria)
Coaching Staff
Manager – Ronald Ramirez
Bench Coach – Angel Tovar
Pitching Coach – Rodrigo Escobar
First Base Coach – Warionet Puello
Third Base Coach – Danys Correa