On Sunday, the LBPRC held their 2024-25 All-Star Game at Estadio Roberto Clemente in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Estadio Roberto Clemente is the home stadium of the LBPRC’s Gigantes de Carolina.
This year’s All-Star Game featured a team of import players against a team of native players from Puerto Rico. Notable players on Team Importados included Senadores de San Juan first baseman José Abreu, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarría of the Gigantes, and Leones de Ponce outfielder Yanquiel Fernández. Notable players on the Team Nativos included Indios de Mayagüez, third baseman Emmanuel Rivera, Indios second baseman Isan Díaz, and Criollos de Caguas third baseman Vimael Machín.
Machín collected the only hit of the game for Team Nativos on what was an otherwise silent day at the plate for the players born in Puerto Rico. The 31-year-old signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on November 13.
Team Importados took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Miami, Florida, native Anthony Vilar. Vilar, a San Diego Padres farmhand, is playing his first season in Puerto Rico with the Gigantes. Vilar went 2-3 and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Indios first baseman David MacKinnon laced an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to extend the lead to two.
Team Importados used nine pitchers in the All-Star Game, and Leones de Ponce relief pitcher Zack Leban was given the win for his appearance out of the bullpen. Alexander Castro of the Senadores took the loss for Team Nativos.
The 2024-25 LBPRC All-Star Game was organized by the Asociación de Peloteros Profesionales de Puerto Rico. Before the main event, a celebrity All-Star softball game featuring famous Puerto Rican athletes and musical artists took place.
Besides the Leones de Ponce, each of the LBPRC’s six organizations have played at least 20 of their 40-game regular season schedule. The Leones will play their 20th game against the Indios de Mayagüez on Tuesday night. The Senadores de San Juan (13-7) are currently in first place in the league, one game ahead of the Indios (12-8).
How to Watch the LBPRC:
The 2024-25 regular season can be streamed for free on the league’s YouTube page and the LBPRC mobile phone app.
