Cuban-American third baseman Sal Stewart Jr. and right-handed Cuban-American pitcher Alek Manoah have signed with the Leones del Escogido, the defending champions of the Dominican Republic’s LIDOM, according to a report by Cuban journalist Yusseff Díaz,
Sal Stewart Jr. Set for Winter Ball Debut – Stewart Jr., currently ranked the No. 30 prospect in Major League Baseball by MLB Pipeline, was promoted by the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 1. In his first 11 big league games, he’s slashing .297/.297/.622 with four home runs and six RBIs.
The 2025 season has been a breakout campaign for the 2022 32nd overall pick. Stewart played across three levels in the minors, with his most productive stint coming in Triple-A Louisville, where he hit .315/.394/.629 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 38 games. Overall in the minors, he posted a strong .309/.383/.524 line with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs.
This will mark the first time Stewart participates in winter ball, and he’s expected to provide a major boost to Leones as they aim for back-to-back championships in LIDOM.
Alek Manoah Looking to Reignite Career – Right-hander Alek Manoah, also reportedly joining Escogido, brings a high-profile name to the winter league. The 27-year-old finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, when he posted a 2.24 ERA with 180 strikeouts over 196.2 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays.
However, injuries and inconsistency have plagued him since. Manoah struggled in 2023, recording a 5.87 ERA, and in 2024 he pitched only 24.1 innings with a 3.70 ERA before being shut down with a UCL sprain. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024 and recently returned to action with a rehab assignment in Triple-A Buffalo.
In his current stint with Buffalo, Manoah has a 3.45 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28.2 innings. Following his rehab, he was optioned to Triple-A, and his future with Toronto remains uncertain. A strong showing in LIDOM could be a critical step in reviving his career.
Leones Eye Another Title Run – The 2025–26 LIDOM regular season kicks off on October 15 and runs through December 23, after which the top four teams will advance to the round-robin stage. The top two from that phase will face off in the championship series.
Last season, the Leones del Escogido claimed the title in a thrilling seven-game series over Tigres del Licey, one of the most exciting finals in recent LIDOM history.
With major additions like Stewart and Manoah joining the roster, the Leones look poised for another deep run and will be among the top contenders to repeat as champions this winter
Photo: Sal Stewart, right, heads to first for a single as teammate TJ Friedl, left, jogs in to score during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
