Outfielder Chase Dawson wrapped up a very impressive World Baseball Classic Qualifier playing for Nicaragua. The 27-year-old American, who played for the Leones de León this winter in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional, recorded three RBIs in Nicaragua’s 6-0 win over Chinese Taipei, helping his club qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic this past Sunday.
He also showed off his excellent defensive skills in the tournament, making this tremendous catch up against the center field wall in the 2-1 extra-inning win against Spain.
According to a report on X by Fernando Rayo of TN8 Nicaragua on Thursday night, Dawson signed a contract with the Bravos de Leon of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol for the 2025 season. The Valparaiso University product will receive his first taste of summer professional baseball outside the United States.
From 2019-24, Dawson played for the Schaumburg Boomers in the Frontier League. The native of Chesterton, Indiana, set a league record with 24 triples in 2022. Dawson uses his speed to his advantage, stealing a career-high 50 bases in 55 attempts in 2023 with the Boomers. The Bravos finished tenth in the LMB in 2024 with 58 stolen bases as a team, 65 fewer than the league leader, the Charros de Jalisco. Dawson should help his new club take extra bases and generate more runs in 2025.
The lefty hitter is also a well-above-average batter, putting together a .310 or better average in three consecutive seasons from 2021-23. Dawson played 96 games for Schaumburg in 2024 and briefly suited up for nine games with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, too.
During the 2024-25 Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional season, Dawson kept his momentum at the plate, slashing .353/.422/.491 with a .914 OPS. Dawson’s real hitting test will come throughout an entire season in the LMB. Compared to professional baseball in Nicaragua, more pitchers with prior Major League Baseball experience are taking the mound in Mexico.
The Bravos de Leon begin the 2025 LMB season on the road at Estadio Finsus in Huimilipan, Querétaro, against the Conspiradores de Querétaro on Friday, April 18.
The Bravos finished 2024 in eighth place in Zona Sur, 37-53. Like the rest of the division, they finished 20 or more games behind the Serie del Rey champions, the 71-19 Diablos Rojos del México.
