By Leif Skodnick
World Baseball Network
The man who hit the home run that put Leones de Caracas in the Caribbean Series won’t be on the roster for the biggest event in winter baseball.
Harold Castro, who’s solo shot in the bottom of the 11th inning ended game six of the Liga Venezolano Beisbol Profesional championship series, has opted to return to the United States and get ready for spring training with the Colorado Rockies rather than play in the Caribbean Series for Venezuela.
Castro signed a minor league contract with Colorado and is a non-roster invitee to Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Venezuelan manager Jose Alguacil has the least amount of time to prepare of any skipper in the Caribbean Series, his Leones having only captured the LVBP title on Monday night in extra innings thanks to Castro. Luckily, they won’t have to travel far, as the event is being held in Venezuela at Estadio Forum La Guaira and the brand new Estadio La Rinconada in Caracas.
Leones closer Silvino Braucho and catcher Jhonny Pereda were also reported to be skipping the Caribbean Series.
Reinforcements to the Leones roster for the Caribbean Series include pitchers Arnaldo Hernandez, David Ramos, Anthony Vizcaya, Guillermo Moscoso, Erick Leal, Yapson Gomez, and Ricardo Pinto; catcher Wilson Ramos and Francisco Arcia; infielder Ali Castillo; and outfielders Danry Vasquez, Angel Reyes, and Hernan Perez.
Venezuela opens the Caribbean Series at 8 p.m. ET Thursday against Panama in the first game at Estadio La Rinconada. The game will be available in the U.S via ESPNDeportes.
The full Caribbean Series roster for Venezuela is below.
Pitchers (Team)
Yoimer Camacho (Leones de Caracas)
Jhoulys Chacin (Leones de Caracas)
Yapson Gomez (Cardenales de Lara)
Norwich Gudino (Leones de Caracas)
Alfred Gutierrez (Leones de Caracas)
Arnaldo Hernandez (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Erick Leal (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Guillermo Moscoso (Tigres de Aragua)
Ricardo Pinto (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Juan Carlos Ramirez (Leones de Caracas)
David Ramos (Bravos de Margarita)
Ricardo Rodriguez (Leones de Caracas)
Miguel Socolovich (Leones de Caracas)
Anthony Vizcaya (Navegantes de Magallanes)
Catchers (Team)
Francisco Arcia (Leones de Caracas)
Wilson Ramos (Tigres de Aragua)
Juan Carlos Torres (Leones de Caracas)
Infielders (Team)
Orlando Arcia (Leones de Caracas)
Ali Castillo (Aguilas del Zulia)
Gabriel Noriega (Leones de Caracas)
Carlos Rivero (Tigres de Aragua)
Isaias Tejada (Leones de Caracas)
Wilfredo Tovar (Leones de Caracas)
Outfielders (Team)
Oswaldo Arcia (Leones de Caracas)
Hernan Perez (Cardenales de Lara)
Angel Reyes (Aguilas del Zulia)
Jose Rondon (Leones de Caracas)
Danry Vasquez (Tiburones de La Guaira)
Coaching Staff
Manager – Jose Alguacil
First Base Coach – Juan Munoz
Third Base Coach – Oscar Salazar
Coach – Juan Indriago
Coach – Ligmer Morales
Coach – Kevin Nieves
Bench Coach – Lipso Nava
Bullpen Coach – Lino Urdaneta
Hitting Coach – Ramon Castro
Pitching Coach – Wilson Alvarez