Aguilas Cibaenas outfielder Alberto Rodriguez is taking LIDOM by storm early in the season with an OPS of 1.512 in 15 at-bats and a batting average of .467.
He also has one home run, two triples, and eight RBIs thus far this season. Rodriguez, 25, delivered a big two-run home run against Gigantes del Cibao against Wilkin Ramos on Nov. 9 in a 7-3 win. His home run made it a 6-3 ballgame and put the game out of reach.
The Aguilas Cibaenas are 11-3 and in first place, and Rodriguez is a big reason why.
Rodriguez was in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system for two seasons after signing with them as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2017. Rodriguez was traded to the Seattle Mariners on Jan. 1, 2020, and he spent four seasons with them. He made it to their Double-A affiliate but never got to Triple-A, and had 44 home runs, 306 RBIs, and 73 stolen bases in his minor league career. His slash line was .274/.350/.422 in 2,080 at-bats.
Siri Battling His Way Back – Gigantes del Cibao outfielder Jose Siri is seeking redemption after an injury-plagued and disappointing season led to his release by the Mets. He only played in 16 MLB games in 2025 and was designated for assignment, then outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. He’s only played two games in LIDOM this winter, but he had a multi-hit game with a double and two stolen bases in the Gigantes’ 7-3 loss on Nov. 9.
De La Cruz Continues To Grind – Estrellas Orientales pitcher Oscar De La Cruz was a former prospect with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. He signed with the Chicago Cubs out of the Dominican Republic in 2012 as an international free agent and spent seven seasons in their farm system before signing with the Mets prior to the 2020 season.
Now 30, De La Cruz helped the Estrellas Orientales shut out the Tigres del Licey 4-0 with 4.⅓ innings and six strikeouts on Nov. 10. He has an ERA of 2.45 in 18.⅓ innings and 25 strikeouts for the Estrellas Orientales this season.
Tigres del Licey Cristhian Adames went 2-for-4 with a double in their 4-0 loss, and he leads the Tigres del Licey with an OPS of .978 in 42 at-bats.
Jimenez Keeping Career Alive in LIDOM – The Toros del Este’s Eloy Jiménez was the top-ranked international prospect of the 2013-14 international class after the Chicago Cubs signed him with a $2.8 million signing bonus. Jimenez, 28, made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2019 and played with them through the 2023 season. In 2025, he signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, but didn’t return to the Major Leagues, and is now an MLB free agent. He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the Toros del Este 12-4 win against Leones del Escogido on Nov.10. Jimenez has two home runs, seven RBIs, and an OPS of .698 in 39 at-bats for Toros del Este this season.
Navarro Still Swinging – Yamaico Navarro was signed by the Boston Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. He made his MLB debut with them in 2010 and also played for the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Baltimore Orioles. His last MLB appearance was in 2013 with the Baltimore Orioles. Navarro had two home runs, 20 RBIs, and a slash line of .206/.258/.267 in 180 at-bats. He’s still at it on the island, and went 1-for-2 in their 12-4 win Monday night, and has two home runs, seven RBI’s, and an OPS of 1.009 in 48 at-bats.
Photo: Alberto Rodriguez is off to a hot start with the Aguilas Cibaenas of LIDOM. (Photo courtesy of the Aguilas Cibaenas)
