The 206-27 Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional season kicks off on Monday night at Estadio José Bernardo Pérez, in Valencia, Venezuela.
The season's first matchup features the Tiburones de la Guaira and the LVPB's defending champions, the Navegantes del Magallanes.
Each of the league's eight clubs will play a 56-game regular season, followed by a round-robin that decides who advances to the best-of-seven championship series. Five teams will reach the round-robin stage, and the regular season ends Dec. 27.
This year, the LVBP has increased the number of import players each team is allowed from six to eight. Most clubs are likely to have filled those open roster spots with a few more pitchers, but adding a new hitter or two was another route an organization could've taken.
The champion of the 2027 LVBP season will represent Venezuela at the 2027 Caribbean Series in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Meanwhile, the LVBP's runner-up will travel to Caracas, Venezuela, to compete in the Serie de las Américas.
Where to Watch - LVBP fans can stream the games live on BeisbolPlay for about $22.99 per season.
Cardenales de Lara
Stadium - Estadio Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez, Barquisimeto
Manager - Cesar Izturis
Notable Players - 3B Yonny Hernandez; 1B Rangel Ravelo; RHP Max Castillo
Last Year - 30-26 Regular Season (first place), 9-7 Round Robin (third place)
Outlook - Izturis returns for his second season with the Cardenales. Ravelo is looking for a bounce-back season after a .589 OPS in 27 games last winter. Lara won the 2024-25 championship against the Bravos.
Bravos de Margarita
Stadium - Stadium Nueva Esparta, Margarita
Manager - Henry Blanco
Notable Players - OF Ramon Flores; OF/2B Alexi Amarista; RHP Angel Rondon
Last Year- 29-27 Regular Season (second place), 4-12 Round Robin (fifth place)
Outlook - This is Blanco’s second season in his second stint as the Bravos manager. The position-play core includes several veterans, such as Flores and Amarista. Rondon last played in the Majors in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Águilas de Zulia
Stadium - Estadio Luis Aparicio El Grande
Manager - Guillermo Quiroz
Notable Players - RHP Bryce Bonnin; 2B Aron Estrada; SS Angelo Castellano
Last Year - 29-27 Regular Season (Fourth Place), 7-9 Round Robin (Fourth Place)
Outlook - The Aguilas will look for a strong year under first-year manager Quiroz. They will have six import pitchers, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio has expressed interest in playing for the Aguilas this winter, per La Iguana TV.
Navegantes del Magallanes
Stadium - Estadio José Bernardo Pérez
Manager - Yadier Molina
Notable Players - RHP Wilking Rodriguez; 1B Renato Nunez; C/DH Francisco Alvarez, SP Ronnie Williams
Last Year - 29-27 Regular Season (Third Place), 10-6 Round Robin (Second Place), Won Championship Series 4-2 over Caribes de Anzoátegui
Outlook - The defending champions look to make it back-to-back titles. Having Molina in the dugout could help them do so. Nunez is a premier power hitter, connecting for 10 home runs last season.
Tigres de Aragua
Stadium - Estadio José Pérez Colmenares
Manager - Miguel Pérez
Notable Players - 2B Jorbit Vivas; LHP Connor Curlis; RHP Tyler Jeans
Last Year - 28-28 Regular Season (Sixth Place)
Outlook - Vivas should boost the Tigres’ offense. The third baseman had 31 RBIs in 121 games for the Washington Nationals. Jean struck out 64 batters in 42 2/3 innings in the American Association of Professional Baseball with the Fargo-Moorhead Hawks.
Tiburones de La Guaira
Stadium - Estadio Jorge Luis García Carneiro
Manager - Fernando Tatis Sr.
Notable Players - OF Jurickson Profar; 3B Yangervis Solarte; SS Alcides Escobar
Last Year - 27-29 Regular Season (Seventh Place)
Outlook - The Tiburones have several former Major Leaguers, including Profar. Ronald Acuna Jr. could join the team in December, per Meridiano.net. Manager Fernando Tatis Sr. won a championship in the 2018-19 LIDOM season.
Leones del Caracas
Stadium - Estadio Monumental de Caracas Simón Bolívar
Manager - Lipso Nava
Notable Players - C Alfredo Duno; RHP Erick Leal; RHP Touki Toussaint
Last Year - 24-32 Regular Season (Last Place)
Outlook - The Leones missed the Round Robin in each of the last two seasons. Duno is a top prospect for the Cincinnati Reds and hit 16 home runs at High-Dayton. Toussaint brings eight years of MLB experience to the pitching staff.
Caribes de Anzoátegui
Stadium - Estadio Alfonso Chico Carrasquel
Manager - Asdrubal Cabrera
Notable Players - RHP Bryan Caceres; C Omar Alfonzo; 1B Wilmer Perez
Last Year - 28-28 Regular Season (Fifth Place), 10-6 Round Robin (First Place), Lost Championship Series 4-2 to Navegantes del Magallanes
Outlook - Cabrera returns to help the Caribes make back-to-back appearances in the championship series. Lowering a 5.16 ERA could help them claim the title. New York Yankees prospect Omar Alfonzo hit four home runs with a .769 OPS last winter.