The Estrellas Orientales have risen to the top of the World Baseball Network‘s weekly Winter Ball Poll, garnering two of four first place votes and 37 total points in this week’s balloting.
At 27-18, the Estrellas, who play in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, are atop both the poll and the LIDOM standings, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 games. Last week, they were ranked second in the poll, behind the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico.
This week, the two clubs have exchanged places, with the Naranjeros ranked second by the voters with two first place votes and 36 total points. Hermosillo, the defending LAMP champions, are 34-22 for the season and 15-6 in the second half, good for first place both overall and in the second half of the season.
Venezuela’s Cardenales de Lara are ranked third, garnering 32 points in the voting with a record of 30-21, rising from fourth in the December 10 poll.
The Tomateros de Culiacan, who won the first half of the season in the LAMP, are ranked fourth with a 33-23 record, falling one spot from third last week.
The Senadores de San Juan, who lead the Liga Beisbol de Profesional Roberto Clemente with a 16-10 record, are the highest ranked club in Puerto Rico’s winter league, coming in fifth this week with 20 points, three points ahead of the Aguilas del Zulia from the LVBP, who reentered the poll at sixth this week.
In seven this week are the LAMP’s Caneros de Los Mochis (32-24), who earned 20 points and rose two spots from last week. They’re five points ahead of the Charros de Jalisco (31-25), who are 14-7 in the second half, good for second place in the LAMP.
With nine points this week, the Indios de Mayaguez (15-11) of the LBPRC are ranked ninth, one point ahead of the two-time defending LIDOM champion Tigres del Licey (23-19), who round out this week’s poll.
| Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | League | Points | Record | Last 10 Games | Last Week |
| 1 | Estrellas Orientales (2) | LIDOM | 37 | 27-18 | 7-3 | 2 |
| 2 | Naranjeros de Hermosillo (2) | LAMP | 36 | 34-22 | 6-4 | 1 |
| 3 | Cardenales de Lara | LVBP | 32 | 30-21 | 6-4 | 4 |
| 4 | Tomateros de Culiacan | LAMP | 22 | 33-23 | 3-7 | 3 |
| 5 | Senadores de San Juan | LBPRC | 20 | 16-10 | 7-3 | 6 |
| 6 | Aguilas del Zulia | LVBP | 17 | 29-23 | 7-3 | NR |
| 7 | Caneros de Los Mochis | LAMP | 15 | 32-24 | 6-4 | 9 |
| 8 | Charros de Jalisco | LAMP | 10 | 31-25 | 7-3 | NR |
| 9 | Indios de Mayaguez | LBPRC | 9 | 15-11 | 5-5 | 8 |
| 10 | Tigres del Licey | LIDOM | 8 | 23-19 | 6-4 | 5 |
Also Receiving Votes: Aguilas Cibaenas (LIDOM, 7), Navegantes de Magallanes (LVBP, 6), Algodoneros de Guasave (LAMP, 1).
Dropped Out: Leones del Escogido (LIDOM), Navegantes de Magallanes (LVBP).
