Jose Reyes, the former slick-fielding New York Mets shortstop, has rejoined the Gigantes del Cibao, the team with whom he played four seasons in LIDOM, as an ambassador.
“It feels so good to wear this jacket again. It’s special since it was the franchise that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play in LIDOM when I was just starting my career. Honestly, I’m happy to be back and ready to help our players,” Reyes said in Spanish in a team press release announcing the move. Reyes played four seasons for the Gigantes between 2000 and 2004.
Reyes will be participating in team-organized activities and events, and visiting Estadio Julián Javier Stadium and other venues to interact with the players, conduct baseball clinics, and sign autographs for fans.
Pablo Reyes Brings Power Bat To Gigantes’ Lineup – Utility infielder Pablo Reyes has signed with the Gigantes del Cibao for 2025, giving the San Francisco de Macoris-based club a solid bat in the middle of the lineup. In nine LIDOM seasons with the Toros del Este, Leones del Escogido, and Tigres del Licey, Reyes has played 184 games with a .239/.320/.329 batting line, hitting seven homers and driving in 49 runs.
He appeared in 25 MLB games for the New York Yankees earlier this season, going 6-for-31 with two RBIs, and is currently playing with Triple-A Syracuse in the New York Mets organization, where he’s batting .312/.420/.514 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 30 games.
Relievers Rafael Kelly, Livan Reinoso Headed to Cibao – Righthanders Rafael Kelly and Livan Reinoso will be in the Gigantes bullpen come October.
Kelly has made 36 appearances with Hagerstown of the independent Atlantic League, throwing 43 innings and earning nine saves with a 2.51 ERA in 2025. The Samana, Dominican Republic-native has made three career appearances in LIDOM over two seasons with the Toros del Este, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts in two innings of work.
Reinoso, 26, has split the 2025 season between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, making 21 appearances at Double-A and throwing 28 innings with 24 strikeouts and a 5.14 ERA.
Pitcher Scott Engler Signs With Gigantes – Former Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins farmhand Scott Engler has signed with the Gigantes for the coming winter. After being released by the Twins last July, Engler has pitched for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League, and has put up solid numbers in 2025, throwing 42 2/3 innings with 47 strikeouts and a 2.11 ERA.
Gigantes Name Coaching Staff – Manager Jose Leger will have a 12-man staff with the Gigantes this winter. Francisco Contreras will be Leger’s assistant manager, while Felipe Rojas Jr. will be Leger’s bench coach. Juan Sandoval will be the Gigantes’ pitching coach, Varo Lantigua will be the hitting coach, Elvis Rodriguez will be the assistant hitting coach, and Leyson Septimo will coach the bullpen. Jhonaldo Pozo will be the first base coach for the Gigantes, Sergio Mendez will be the third base coach, Carlos Pimentel will be the assistant pitching coach, Robinson Diaz will coach the catchers, Gerardo Olivares will be the utility coach, and Mario Ferretti will be the Gigantes’ quality control coach.
¡Presentamos nuestro staff de coaches para la temporada 2025-26! 🐎🤎 pic.twitter.com/i91IiaTk8t
— Gigantes del Cibao ® (@Gigantes_Cibao) June 10, 2025
WBN LIDOM: https://worldbaseball.com/league/dominican-republic/lidom/
Photo: Pablo Reyes, right, runs home to score for the New York Yankees in the eighth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
