This Wednesday, October 16, the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) returns to the field with the best six teams of the highest level of professional baseball spread throughout the Republic. Many prospects are born here to reach the Major Leagues in the United States, as well as the return of many MLB veterans.
On this occasion, the approved season format contemplates a 150-game Regular Series. The first game will be between the Aguilas Cibaeñas and Gigantes del Cibao. The tournament will conclude on December 22, with a clash between the Estrellas Orientales and the Toros del Este at 5:00 PM.
This will be LIDOM's 70th season and the team representing the Dominican Republic will be selected to participate in the next edition of the Caribbean Series 2025.
In the last 2024 edition, the Tigres del Licey managed to reach the final, but lost to the Venezuelan team Tiburones de la Guaira. This was held at the IoanDepot park in Miami with record attendance.
In recent days it was announced that the next edition will be held in Mexicali, from January 31 to February 7, 2025. The great novelty will be the participation of the Japanese team Japan Breeze at the request of the Organizing Committee under a framework of growth, innovation and inclusion.
Date 1
On Wednesday 16, the game between Águilas and Gigantes will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Julián Javier stadium. Likewise, Licey will face Escogido at 7:15 p.m. at Quisqueya Stadium, and Estrellas will face Toros at 7:30 p.m. at Francisco Micheli Stadium.
The Toros continue to strive to have a competitive team for the start of the season. To that end, they have announced the signing of the Major League first baseman Emmanuel Rivera, who has a .244 average in 340 games, with 22 home runs and 103 runs batted in.
Meanwhile, the two-time national champions, Tigres del Licey, have announced the return of Juan Francisco, the LIDOM's all-time home run leader. Francisco was part of the team from the 2011-12 season through the 2019-20 season, where he established himself as a league legend. Over 17 seasons, he has accumulated 85 home runs, 344 runs batted in and 244 runs scored in 2,141 plate appearances, with a .261 average, a .344 fielding percentage and a .451 slugging percentage. His lifetime OPS is .794, sixth best all-time among hitters with at least 2,000 LIDOM appearances.
Finally, the Leones del Escogido have signed Puerto Rican catcher Martín Maldonado, who has 14 seasons of Major League experience. In 2024, he played for the Chicago White Sox and has won two Gold Glove awards. He also won a World Series in 2022 with the Houston Astros, where he was a starter.
We know you're just as eager as we are to get back in the game ⚾️🤩
We remind you of the #DíaInauguralLIDOM games so you can put together your chorus with time. you have one week! 🔥🙌🏻#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/gTEepez03L
- LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) October 9, 2024
Curious facts
Baseball made its appearance in the Dominican Republic thanks to Cubans fleeing the Ten Years' War. Its popularity grew rapidly as more Dominicans began to play. The creation of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) allowed local ballplayers to develop and fostered a growing interest among the public.
In the Dominican Republic, baseball players are considered sports heroes and serve as an inspiration to their fans, receiving even more media attention than in the United States. This admiration drives children to start playing organized baseball as young as six years old, competing in leagues in the hope of being recruited by scouts.
At the beginning of the 20th century, four Dominican teams were founded that are still active and form the backbone of professional baseball in the Dominican Republic:
- Licey Tigers (1907)
- Eastern Stars (1910)
- Escogido Lions (1921)
- Águilas Cibaeñas (1937)
