The first full month of the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional has concluded, and just over three weeks remain in the regular season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. made his debut in the 2025-26 campaign this past week and immediately delivered for the Tiburones de La Guaira. He homered in his second game and is 5-for-10 with a home run and five walks in just three games.
Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel García also debuted this week for the Tiburones and is 6-for-15 with three doubles. Both were expected to deliver major production to help push Tiburones back into the top four and secure a round-robin berth. The club is now in fifth place and just 1.5 games out of first as the crucial final month of the regular season begins Tuesday.
Tiburones rookie and Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect Jadher Areinamo has left the LVBP play temporarily to handle visa matters in the United States. His absence is a blow to the Tiburones and the league. Areinamo is the clear Rookie of the Year favorite and was running away with the MVP. He leads LVBP in home runs with 13, RBIs with 44, slugging percentage (.692) and OPS (1.112). He is the only qualified hitter with an OPS above 1.000. Had he stayed through the end of the season, there is little doubt he would have claimed MVP honors. It has been a season of complete dominance for the newly turned 22-year-old.
Another major storyline has been the rise of the Navegantes de Magallanes. Since Yadier Molina took over as manager, the club has caught fire. Magallanes has won six straight and climbed out of last place after its season nearly slipped away. Now seventh, they sit only 2 1/2 games out of first. With just 3 1/2 games separating the first-place Tigres de Aragua and last-place Leones del Caracas, the league is set up for a chaotic stretch run. The regular season concludes Dec. 27.
On Monday, the LVBP held its annual home run derby in Valencia, where a record 232 home runs were hit. Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu defeated Washington Nationals infielder Andrés Chaparro in the finals. The field included several of Venezuela’s MLB stars and top prospects: Royals catcher Salvador Pérez, Cardinals infielder Willson Contreras, Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Royals infielder Maikel García, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., Rays prospect Jadher Areinamo, and 16-year-old Venezuelan prospect Francisco Rentería, along with Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig.
In the opening round, Acuña and Puig each hit 21 home runs, Abreu hit 20 and Chaparro totaled 19, with all four advancing. Chaparro beat Acuña 15–13 in the first semifinal, and Abreu defeated Puig 15–13 in the other. Abreu then won the final 9–8 to claim his first home run derby title.
LVBP action resumes Tuesday with Caracas visiting Tiburones. Águilas del Zulia will also face the Bravos de Margarita. Zulia, after opening 19–12, has lost five straight but remains in second place despite a league-worst minus-67 run differential. During the skid, they have been outscored 42–8. They will need a strong response in a week that includes matchups against the surging Tiburones, first-place Tigres de Aragua and Cardenales de Lara, who routed them in a two-game weekend sweep capped by a 21–1 blowout.
Current LVBP Standings
Tigres de Aragua, 20–17
Águilas del Zulia, 19–17
Bravos de Margarita, 20–18
Caribes de Anzoátegui, 19–18
Tiburones de La Guaira, 19–19
Cardenales de Lara, 18–20
Navegantes del Magallanes, 18–20
Leones del Caracas, 16–20
Photo: Wilyer Abreu crowned champion of LVBP home run derby. Photo courtesy of LVBP
