The 2024-25 LIDOM champion, Leones del Escogido announced their official roster for the 2025 Caribbean Series on January 29.
¡NOS VEMOS EN MEXICALI! 🦁🏆 pic.twitter.com/WM8lkPUYV9
— 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐝𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@EscogidoBBClub) January 30, 2025
The Leones del Escogido, under manager Albert Pujols won 6-5 over their in-city rival, Tigres del Licey in Game Seven of the 2024-25 LIDOM Championship Series at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, claiming their 17th title, and earning a berth to the 2025 Caribbean Series.
The Leones del Escogido will face the 2024-25 Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional champion, Cardenales de Lara, on Friday, January 31 in the opening game of the 2025 Caribbean Series at El Nido de los Águilas in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico at 4:30 p.m. EST.
Caminero was named the 2024-25 LIDOM Championship Series MVP, after hitting an impressive .346/.471/.615 in 26 at-bats, scoring four runs, drilling nine hits, two doubles, one triple, one home run, six RBI, six walks, and five strikeouts.
The Tampa Bay Rays did not permit Caminero to participate in the 2025 Caribbean Series, despite his dominant performance and electrifying 454-foot home run off the scoreboard at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal that helped propel the organization to reach the tournament for the 11th time.
The players to watch for Leones del Escogido at the 2025 Caribbean Series include infielders Yamaico Navarro, Sócrates Brito, Junior Lake, Héctor Rodríguez, Cristhian Adames, and Kelvin Gutiérrez.
Navarro played in all seven games of the championship series, batting .217/.310/.304 over 23 at-bats. He recorded five hits, two doubles, three RBI, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Brito helped Leones del Escogido clinch their 20th league title and a berth into the 2025 Caribbean Series with his diving catch for the final out to beat the Tigres del Licey 6-5 in Game Seven of the 2024-25 LIDOM championship series.
What a game.
What a series.
What a finish.Leones del Escogido defeat Tigres del Licey in Game 7 of the LIDOM championship 💥 pic.twitter.com/IegG1lmPS1
— MLB (@MLB) January 28, 2025
Brito played in all seven games of the championship series, hitting .273/.306/.485 over 33 at-bats. He tallied nine hits, one double, two home runs, five RBI, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Gutiérrez played for the Gigantes del Cibao in the 2024-25 LIDOM regular season and will have a big impact for Leones del Escogido at the 2025 Caribbean Series. Over 38 games, he slashed .296/.385/.393 in 135 at-bats, collecting 40 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, 20 RBI, 19 walks, and 28 strikeouts.
Adames will be a key reinforcement for Leones del Escogido after a strong performance in the best-of-seven championship series with Tigres del Licey. He played in five games, hitting .267/.267/.267 over 15 at-bats with four hits and four strikeouts.
Rodríguez appeared in four games in the championship series, batting .286/.333/.357 over 14 at-bats. He recorded four hits, one double, two RBI, one walk, and two strikeouts.
Lake will look to carry his championship series success into the 2025 Caribbean Series. Over seven games, he hit .346/.471/.615 in 26 at-bats, collecting nine hits, two doubles, one triple, one home run, six RBI, six walks, and five strikeouts.
Seventeen-year Major League Baseball veteran Robinson Canó rounds out the 2025 Caribbean Series roster for the Leones del Escogido’s offense.
In the coming weeks, Canó will play for the Arabia Wolves in Baseball United’s United Arab Series against the Mid East Falcons from February 14-16 at BU Ballpark in The Sevens, Dubai. He will then return to Liga Mexicana de Béisbol for the 2025 season, marking his second year with the defending champion Diablos Rojos del México.
LIDOM announced their 2024-25 best-of-seven championship series with: Leones del Escogido pitcher Silvino Bracho, Leones de Escogido catcher Pedro Severino, Leones del Escogido first baseman Yamaico Navarro, Leones del Escogido second baseman Jean Segura, Leones del Escogido third baseman Junior Caminero, Tigres del Licey shortstop Sergio Alcantara, Leones del Escogido left fielder Socrates Brito, Tigres del Licey center fielder Johan Rojas, Tigres del Licey right fielder Emilio Bonifacio, Leones del Escogido relief pitcher Rafael Montero, and Tigres del Licey designated hitter Harold Ramirez.
Ellos son nuestro #LineUpAllStar de la #SerieFinalLIDOM ⚾️🔥#LIDOM pic.twitter.com/5zxPE22c09
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) January 28, 2025
Kevin Cabral, President of Baseball Operations for Águilas Cibaeñas, reported on January 28 that Tigres del Licey designated hitter Harold Ramírez tied the LIDOM best-of-seven championship series record for hits with 14, a mark previously set by Ronald Guzmán of Gigantes del Cibao in 2020-21, Luis Polonia of Águilas Cibaeñas in 1995-96, and Willie Kirkland of Leones del Escogido in 1955-56.
Harold Ramírez entra en los libros de récords de las Series Finales de LIDOM, con los 14 hits que pegó en una serie al mejor de siete. Luis Polonia pegó sus 14 imparables en una final que terminó en cinco partidos en 1996. Para tus jugadas, @juancitosport, una banca para fans. pic.twitter.com/rnwGtXSBDJ
— Kevin Cabral (@kevcabral) January 29, 2025
The Leones del Escogido snuck into the LIDOM Round Robin, finishing the 2024-25 regular season in fourth place with a 24-25 record. The Estrellas Orientales were the No. 1 seed under manager Fernando Tatís Sr., finishing at 30-20. Águilas Cibaeñas, led by Yadier Molina, placed second at 27-22, while Tigres del Licey ended third, also at 27-22.
Gigantes del Cibao, managed by Wellington Cepeda, did not qualify for the league’s Round Robin, finishing fifth at 22-27. The Toros del Este, under Carlos Febles, ended last at 17-32.
In the LIDOM Round Robin, Tigres del Licey secured first place with an 11-4 record, followed by Leones del Escogido at 10-5. The Estrellas Orientales struggled, finishing 5-10, while Águilas Cibaeñas placed last at 4-11.
Leones del Escogido have previously won LIDOM championships in 1955-56, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1968-69, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1991-92, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2015-16.
They have represented the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series in 1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2016. In their last Caribbean Series appearance in 2016, they finished 0-4, ending in last place at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal.
The last time Leones del Escogido played in the Caribbean Series in Mexico was 1989, when they went 1-5 and finished last under manager Phil Regan at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal in Mazatlán.
The most recent Dominican team to win a Caribbean Series championship in Mexico was the 2020-21 LIDOM champion Águilas Cibaeñas, who defeated the 2020-21 LBPRC champion Criollos de Caguas 4-1 in the final at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal, going 7-0 in the tournament.
The 2025 Caribbean Series will start on January 31 and run until the championship game on February 7 at Estadio Nido de los Aguilas in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
Five teams will participate, including the host nation, represented by Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, alongside the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente champion Indios de Mayagüez, the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional champion Cardenales de Lara, the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana champion Leones del Escogido, and the tournament’s first-time invitee, Japan Breeze.
The 2025 Caribbean Series will be televised on ESPN Deportes in Spanish and MLB Network in English through the final out of the championship game on February 7.
Caribbean Series History and Records
The LAMP, LVBP, LIDOM, and LBPRC are all part of the Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe (CBPC).
The 2025 Caribbean Series marks the 67th edition of the tournament and the 76th year of the CBPC, beginning on January 31.
The Dominican Republic made its Caribbean Series debut in 1970 at Estadio Universitario in Caracas, Venezuela. That year, the 1969-70 LVBP champion Navegantes del Magallanes and the 1969-70 Puerto Rico Winter League champion Leones de Ponce joined the 1969-70 LIDOM champion Tigres del Licey, who were led by player-manager Manny Mota. The Tigres del Licey struggled in the 1970 Caribbean Series, finishing 1-7, while the Navegantes del Magallanes secured their first title with a 7-1 record. The Leones de Ponce placed second at 4-4.
Mexico first participated in the Caribbean Series in 1971 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 1970-71 LAMP champion Naranjeros de Hermosillo finished 2-4, competing alongside the 1970-71 PRWL champion Cangrejeros de Santurce and the 1970-71 LVBP champion Tiburones de La Guaira. The 1970-71 LIDOM champion Tigres del Licey dominated the event, winning their first Caribbean Series title with a perfect 6-0 record, securing the Dominican Republic’s first championship, with Mota at the helm.
The Dominican Republic has won the most Caribbean Series championships with 22 titles, earned in 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
The Tigres del Licey have the most Caribbean Series titles among all teams, winning 11 championships in 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, and 2023. The Águilas Cibaeñas follow with six titles, secured in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2007, and 2021.
The Leones del Escogido have captured four Caribbean Series championships in 1988, 1990, 2010, and 2012.
Only five teams have won multiple Caribbean Series titles: Tigres del Licey, Águilas Cibaeñas, Leones del Escogido, Cangrejeros de Santurce (LBPRC), and Criollos de Caguas (LBPRC).
The Toros del Este remain the only Dominican Republic team with just one Caribbean Series title, winning in 2020.
Estadio Nido de los Águilas serves as the home stadium for LAMP’s Águilas de Mexicali. Mexicali is hosting the Caribbean Series for the second time, with its last tournament held in 2009, when the 2008-09 LVBP champion Tigres de Aragua claimed the title.
Mexico has hosted the Caribbean Series in Hermosillo (1974, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2013), Mazatlán (1978, 1989, 1993, 2005, 2021), Culiacán (2001, 2017), and Guadalajara (2018).
The last time Leones del Escogido played in the Caribbean Series in Mexico was in 2013 at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, under manager Audo Vicente. The 2013 tournament marked the final year that featured all CBPC member leagues—Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Mexico.
Leones del Escogido finished 5-2 in pool play, securing first place before advancing to the championship game against the 2012-13 LAMP champion Yaquis de Obregón. In the 2013 Caribbean Series final, Leones del Escogido lost 4-3 in an 18-inning marathon, despite recording 16 hits against Yaquis de Obregón’s pitching staff.
Former MLB players Pujols and Cardenales de Lara manager Henry Blanco will set the stage for the first game of the 2025 Caribbean Series once they take the field at Estadio Nido de los Águilas on Friday, January 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
2025 Leones del Escogido Caribbean Series Official Roster:
Pitchers:
Esmil Rogers
Johnny Cueto
Brooks Hall
Emilio Vargas
Jimmy Cordero
Alex Colomé
Ulíses Joaquín
Diógenes Almengó
Joe Corbett
Cesilio Pimentel
Fernando Abad
Phillips Valdez
Gabriel Ynoa
Henry Sosa
Keury Mella
Catchers:
Francisco Peña
Francisco Mejía
Randy Florentino
Infielders:
Yamaico Navarro
Sandber Pimentel
Jonathan Guzmán
Gustavo Núñez
Robinson Canó
Cristhian Adames
Kelvin Gutiérrez
Outfielders:
Junior Lake
Sócrates Brito
José Marmolejos
Luis Liberato
Zoilo Almonte
2025 Caribbean Series Schedule
All Games Will Be Televised On ESPN Deportes in Spanish & MLB Network in English
All Caribbean Series Games Will Be Played At Estadio Nido de los Águilas
Friday, Jan 31
Venezuela vs Dominican Republic – 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET
Puerto Rico vs Mexico – 8:00 p.m. PT/11:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, February 1
Dominican Republic vs Japan – 12:50 p.m PT/3:50 p.m. ET
Mexico vs Venezuela – 5:50 p.m. PT/8:50 p.m. ET
Sunday, February 2
Japan vs Puerto Rico – 12:50 p.m. PT/3:50 p.m. ET
Dominican Republic vs Mexico – 5:50 p.m. PT/8:50 p.m. ET
Monday, February 3
Venezuela vs Puerto Rico – 12:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. ET
Mexico vs Japan – 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, February 4
Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic – 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET
Japan vs Venezuela 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, February 5: Semifinals
Semifinal 1: 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET
Semifinal 2: 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, February 6
Third place game: 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET
Friday, February 7
Final: 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET
