Caribbean Series preview: Big names hit Miami for historic tournament

MIAMI -- For the first time in Caribbean Series history, the tournament of Latin American and Caribbean winter league champions will be played at a Major League stadium, from Feb. 1-9 at Miami’s loanDepot park. The best of the 2023-24 season from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico (Pacific League), Nicaragua, Panama and Curaçao will face off in a round-robin format, followed by the semifinals, a third-place game and the championship game to be played on the final day of the tournament.

In addition to making history with Nicaragua’s debut in the event, the Caribbean Series will return to Miami for the first time in over 30 years, after the tournament was held at the Orange Bowl -- current site of loanDepot park in Little Havana -- in 1990 and at Bobby Maduro Stadium in 1991.

Two familiar names in the dugouts will be former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and former White Sox and Marlins manager Ozzie Guillén. Molina, who just three years ago was named to the All-Caribbean Series Team representing Puerto Rico as an active player for the Criollos de Caguas, led that same team to the local winter league championship this year as manager and will aim for his first crown in this event as a skipper.

Guillén, who returned mid-season for a second stint to manage Tiburones de La Guaira in Venezuela, skippered the club to its first league title since 1985-1986 -- when he was an active player for the squad, just months after being named AL Rookie of the Year with the White Sox. Guillén also joined Earl Weaver, Tommy Lasorda and Terry Francona as managers who have captured winter league titles and at least one World Series championship.

The Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball had been eyeing a Caribbean Series at a Major League venue for some time, according to its president, Juan Francisco Puello Herrera. The 2024 edition is a departure from the tradition of rotating participating countries/territories to host the series, as was the case last year in Venezuela at Caracas and La Guaira.

“The circumstances were right for us to be able to do this in 2024 in Miami, specifically with the Marlins,” said Puello Herrera, who also indicated that the organization may pursue future Caribbean Series at Major League parks. “This is going to be a model, so to speak, for us in other [MLB] stadiums.”

For loanDepot park, the Caribbean Series is the latest in a series of high-profile events at the stadium, where the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics -- including the semifinal and final rounds in last year’s edition -- drew large and enthusiastic crowds. This year, the Marlins’ home will have a special series of attractions for the Caribbean Series, including the Roberto Clemente 3,000 exhibit.

For Puello Herrera and the Confederation, Miami 2024 represents a new day for the tournament, which this year does not include Cuba and Colombia, two “guest” countries that have participated in recent years as non-members of the organization.

“The Caribbean Series is going to be ‘relaunched’ as the event it should be every year,” he said.

Fans can watch English-language coverage of the Caribbean Series on Bally Sports Florida or Bally Sports Sun or stream live in the Bally Sports app. Spanish broadcasts will air on ESPN Deportes and stream on ESPN+.

2023-24 WINTER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN SERIES

Dominican Republic: Tigres del Licey
Caribbean Series championships won by Dominican teams: 22
Championships won by Licey: 12

The Tigres captured their second straight crown and their 24th overall -- the most in Dominican League history -- by defeating the Estrellas Orientales in a tight, seven-game series. The Estrellas were managed by Fernando Tatis Sr. and reached the championship series with help from Fernando Tatis Jr., Robinson Canó and Miguel Sanó. Former Major League outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and series MVP Gustavo Núñez led the way for Licey, a club managed by Gilbert Gómez -- skipper of the Port St. Lucie Mets -- after José Offerman was dismissed in mid-December.

Licey is the Caribbean Series’ winningest club with 12 championships, including last year’s tournament in Venezuela. The Tigres will vie to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Criollos (Puerto Rico) in 2017-18.

Canó will now reinforce Licey in the Caribbean Series and be joined by several other former Major Leaguers, among them Neftalí Féliz, César Valdez, Wander Suero and Dawel Lugo.

Puerto Rico: Criollos de Caguas
Championships won by Puerto Rican teams: 16
Championships won by Criollos: 5

Molina had a successful debut as manager in the Puerto Rican winter league -- just months after skippering Team Puerto Rico in last year’s World Baseball Classic -- leading the Criollos to the title after Caguas defeated Gigantes de Carolina in a nine-game championship series, five games to three. Right-hander Yacksel Ríos and infielder Vimael Machín, both with Major League experience, played significant roles in the Criollos’ defeat of the Gigantes, with Astros prospect Pedro León adding a home run in the deciding game.

Since 2010-11, Caguas has won seven league championships in Puerto Rico, including three of the last four. The Criollos also won the Caribbean Series in 2017 and 2018.

Venezuela: Tiburones de la Guaira
Championships won by Venezuelan teams: 7
Championships won by Tiburones: None

The Tiburones ended their 38-year championship drought in Venezuela this year with Guillén at the helm -- along with pitching coach Carlos Zambrano -- and significant contributions from familiar names such as Yasiel Puig, Alcides Escobar, Miguel Rojas, Harold Ramírez and even Ronald Acuña Jr. for a handful of games at the end of the regular season. They defeated Cardenales de Lara in six games in their championship series in Venezuela, and now eye the club’s first Caribbean Series title. To that end, former Major Leaguers Wilson Ramos, Jhoulys Chacín, Odúbel Herrera and Silvino Bracho were added to the Tiburones roster as reinforcements.

Mexico: Naranjeros de Hermosillo
Championships won by Mexican teams: 9
Championships won by the Naranjeros: 2

The Naranjeros won their 17th local crown -- the most in Mexican Pacific League history -- by sweeping the Venados de Mazatlán 4-0 in their championship series. Managed by former Major League infielder and coach Juan Castro, the Hermosillo club was sparked by Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes and former Major Leaguer Aaron Altherr, who was named MVP of the series vs. Mazatlán.

The Hermosillo club, which won its last 11 postseason games on its way to the league title, returns to the Caribbean Series for the first time since 2014, when it won the tournament.

Supporters of the Naranjeros are hoping for a repeat of the buzz created by Team Mexico in loanDepot park at the World Baseball Classic last March, when the club surprised most prognosticators by reaching the semifinals and almost defeating eventual champion Japan.

Panama: Federales de Chiriquí
Championships won by Panamanian teams: 2
Championships won by Federales: None

The Federales defeated the Águilas Metropolitanas in the championship series in Panama to win their first ever league title. Their offense was boosted by Christian Bethancourt and Iván Herrera, the former a veteran of seven Major League seasons and currently on the Marlins’ 40-man roster, and the latter slated to share the Cardinals’ catching responsibilities with Willson Contreras this year.

This will be the Federales’ second participation in the Caribbean Series, after representing Panama in Mazatlán, Mexico, in 2021 by virtue of being the local league’s runner-up in 2019-20

Nicaragua: Gigantes de Rivas
Championships won by Nicaraguan teams: None
Championships won by the Gigantes: None

The Gigantes, managed by former San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Benard, will have the privilege of being Nicaragua’s first representative in the Caribbean Series. With the help of former Major Leaguers Cheslor Cuthbert and Raudy Read, Rivas defeated Tren del Norte four games to two in their best of seven championship series in the local league.

Cuthbert and Read will remain on the club’s roster for the Caribbean Series, in addition to former San Francisco outfielder Francisco Peguero.

Curaçao: Curaçao Suns
Championships won by Curaçaoan teams: None
Championships won by the Suns: None

The Suns emerged victorious from Curaçao’s inaugural professional tournament, a week-long event held in December, by defeating the Willemstad Cannons in the championship game.

The Suns will have several familiar faces with considerable Major League experience in the Caribbean Series: Jurickson Profar, Jonathan Schoop, Andrelton Simmons, Didi Gregorius and Roger Bernadina, in addition to Wladimir Balentien, the single-season home run king in Japan (60, 2013).

This will be Curaçao’s second Caribbean Series, after their debut last year in Venezuela. Wildcats KJ74 went 2-5 in the qualifying stage in 2023, representing Curaçao in the tournament by virtue of winning the championship in the local AA League in 2022.