The Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana started their 2025-2026 winter season on Oct. 15, and the Estrellas Orientales have jumped to the top of the standings with a 4-1 record. The Aguilas Cibaenas and the Tigres del Licey are both in second place at 3-1, followed by the Toros del Este, who are 2-3 and in fourth place. The Leones del Escogido are 1-4, and the Gigantes del Cibao are 0-3, at the bottom of the standings.
Estrellas Orientales – Estrellas Orientales Miguel Sano leads LIDOM with two home runs and eight RBIs. One of his home runs was a three-run shot against Leones del Escogido on Oct. 17 in an 8-7 win. He also added a hit and another RBI, and was the reason why they won the game. His slash line is .316/.409/.684 in 19 at-bats in LIDOM this season.
Sano, 32, was a former MLB player for nine seasons from 2015-2024, and he was unsigned in 2023. He made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2015 and played eight seasons with them through the 2022 season. Sano made the Postseason twice with the Twins in 2019 and 2020. Sano had his best season with the Twins in 2019, when he hit 34 home runs with 79 RBIs and a slash line of .247/.346/.576
Aguilas Cibaenas – Aguilas Cibaenas left-handed pitcher Charlie Barns threw four scoreless innings with three strikeouts in the Aguilas Cibaenas 4-0 win against the Tigres del Licey on October 19.
He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 in the fourth round of the MLB draft. Barns, 30, pitched one MLB season with the Twins in 2021 and he pitched 38 innings with 20 strikeouts and an ERA of 5.92.
Tigres del Licey – Tigres del Licey shortstop Gustavo Nunez had three hits and three RBIs in five at-bats and made the difference in their 7-4 win against the Gigantes del Cibao on Oct. 20. Nunez, 37, has four RBIs in 15 at-bats with a slash line of .333/.474/.400.
Nunez signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic but never appeared in an MLB game. His most recent game action outside of LIDOM was this past season in Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Sultanes de Monterrey, where had seven home runs, 40 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases.
Gigantes del Cibao – Gigantes del Cibao shortstop Carlos Jorge has gotten off to a hot start with one home run, two RBIs, and a slash line of .429/.500/.857 in seven at-bats.
Jorge, 22, hit a solo home run to lead off the game against Tigres del Licey in their loss to Toros del Este Monday night. He signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. This past season, he played with their High-A affiliate, the Dayton Dragons. Jorge had six home runs, 37 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, and a slash line of .251/.342/.355 in 406 at-bats with the Dragons in 2025.
Toros del Este – Toros del Este right-handed pitcher Aaron Sanchez pitched five scoreless innings with a league-leading seven strikeouts. They won his start 4-3 against the Leones del Escogido on October 19.
Sanchez, 33, made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014 and was traded to the San Francisco Giants at the 2019 trade deadline. His best season with the Blue Jays came in 2016 when he led the American League with an ERA of 3.00 in 192 innings with 161 strikeouts. Sanchez ended his MLB career with the Twins in 2022.
Leones del Escogido – Leones del Escogido right-handed pitcher Phillips Valdez has tossed 6 1/3 innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts. His best performance came in their first game of the season against the Tigres del Licey, when he gave up one run in three innings and struck out four batters. They lost 4-3 in 10 innings, but he gave them a chance to win by pitching from the fourth through the sixth.
Valdez, 33, was signed by the Cleveland Indians to a minor league deal in 2009, and he was born in San Pedro de Marcos. He made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2019 and then pitched three seasons for the Boston Red Sox. In four MLB seasons, Valdez pitched 102.2/3 innings, with 96 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.59.
Oct. 21, 2025 LIDOM Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
GAMES CANCELLED DUE TO TROPICAL STORM MELISSA
7 p.m. – Leones del Escogido (1-4) at Gigantes del Cibao (0-3)
7:30 p.m. – Aguilas Cibaenas (3-1) at Estrellas Orientales (4-0)
7:30 p.m. – Toros del Este (2-3) at Tigres del Licey (3-1)
Photo: Miguel Sano reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Cardenales de Lara during the Choque De Gigantes baseball tournament, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
