When the pregame festivities for the 67th Caribbean Series conclude on Friday night, the 2024-25 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente champion Indios de Mayagüez, managed by Wilfredo Cordero, will face the 2024-25 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico champion Charros de Jalisco at El Nido de los Águilas in Mexicali.
Fans in Puerto Rico will have to wait until midnight Atlantic Standard Time for the first pitch on February 1. Anticipation will run high as both nations begin their Caribbean Series tournament, a potential preview of what lies ahead for international baseball’s competitive landscape.
The Indios de Mayagüez enter the tournament after capturing the LBPRC best-of-nine championship series over the Senadores de San Juan in six games on January 24 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Mayagüez finished first in the 2024-25 LBPRC regular season, posting a 24-16 record before defeating the Criollos de Caguas in six games in the best-of-seven semifinal series on January 14. Meanwhile, the Senadores de San Juan advanced to the championship series by defeating their in-city rival, the Cangrejeros de Santurce, in five games in the semifinal series on January 12.
The Indios de Mayagüez boast an impressive history, with two Caribbean Series championships (1978, 1992) and 20 LBPRC titles, including wins in 1948-49, 1956-57, 1962-63, 1965-66, 1977-78, 1983-84, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1991-92, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2022-23, and their most recent 2024-25 winter league championship.
The Indios de Mayagüez look to improve on their fifth-place finish in the 2023 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela.
The Vaqueros de Montería secured the third seed, while the Tigres del Licey placed fourth, eliminating Indios de Mayagüez from semifinal contention due to the Total Quality Balance (TQB) run differential rule and head-to-head win-loss record in the eight-team tournament.
With this year’s five-team event taking place just south of the United States-Mexico border, Indios de Mayagüez must adjust after a week-long layoff before facing a talented Charros de Jalisco team, managed by Mexico’s World Baseball Classic skipper, Benji Gil.
Charros de Jalisco Announce Official Roster for 2025 Caribbean Series
The Charros de Jalisco punched their ticket to the 2025 Caribbean Series on January 28, defeating the Tomateros de Culiacán 9-6 in 13 innings on the road at Estadio Tomateros in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México.
The Charros de Jalisco led by manager Benji Gil will have nine reinforcement players added to their 2024 with the Tomateros de Culiacán pitchers David Gutierrez and Stephen Nogosek, Aguilas de Mexicali pitcher David Reyes and Jesus Cruz, Algodoneros de Guasave catcher Alexis Wilson, Naranjeros de Hermosillo infielder Jasson Atondo, Sultanes de Monterrey outfielder Donovan Casey, and Naranjeros de Hermosillo outfielder Jose Cardona.
¡CON ESTE ROSTER BUSCAREMOS LA CORONA PARA MÉXICO EN LA SERIE DEL CARIBE MEXICALI 2025!???????????? pic.twitter.com/abrpXzoidX
— Charros de Jalisco???? (@charrosbeisbol) January 30, 2025
Atondo will be a key player to watch for the Charros de Jalisco at the 2025 Caribbean Series. Atondo played in 11 games in the LAMP postseason and batted .326/.383/.349 with 43 at-bats, cracking 14 hits, one double, two RBI, four walks, and six strikeouts.
Two players that will be intriguing to watch for the Charros de Jalisco are Billy Hamilton and Reynaldo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez played in 12 games in the LAMP playoffs and batted .238/.333/.381 in 42 at-bats with 10 hits, three doubles, one home run, nine RBI, five walks, and four strikeouts.
Hamilton with his 11 seasons in Major League Baseball can be a big impact for the Charros de Jalisco on the basepaths at the 2025 Caribbean Series. Hamilton during the 2025 LAMP postseason played in 12 games and batted .238/.333/.381 with 42 at-bats, drilling 10 hits, three doubles, one home run, swiping two bases, nine RBI, five walks, and four strikeouts.
The Charros de Jalisco’s pitching staff went 12-4 in the 2024-25 LAMP postseason, combining with a 2.86 ERA in 16 games, chucking three shutouts, recording four saves, throwing 151 innings, allowing 119 hits, 48 earned runs, eight home runs, 65 walks, 100 strikeouts, a 1.22 WHIP and hitters struggling with a .222 average which was the second lowest next to the Tomateros de Culiacan at .208.
Five Teams in the 2025 Caribbean Series:
The five teams competing in the 2025 Caribbean Series are the 2024-25 winter league champions, including the host nation’s Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico champion Charros de Jalisco, the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente champion Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico), the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional champion Cardenales de Lara, and the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana champion Leones del Escogido. The Japan Breeze, making their Caribbean Series debut, will participate as an invited team.
The Charros de Jalisco previously appeared in the Caribbean Series in 2019 and 2022 before securing their place in the 2025 event.
At the 2022 Caribbean Series in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Charros de Jalisco finished 3-2, placing fourth at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal before falling 2-1 in the semifinals to the 2021-22 LIDOM champion Gigantes del Cibao.