Dominican baseball's fiercest rivalry makes its way to Queens

NEW YORK -- Dominican baseball’s fiercest rivalry will usher in a new chapter in the Big Apple this fall.

On Wednesday, it was officially announced that the Águilas Cibaeñas and the Tigres del Licey, two of the six teams that make up the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic (known by its Spanish acronym, LIDOM), will face off in a three-game exhibition series billed as “Titans of the Caribbean” at Citi Field from Nov. 10-12.

In a press conference at Citi Field on Thursday, executives from both clubs and the league, accompanied by Consul General of the Dominican Republic in New York City Eligio Jáquez, expressed satisfaction that they’ll be able to bring winter ball games to the Dominican community in New York.

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According to U.S. Census data as of 2021, 2.4 million Hispanics of Dominican origin live in the U.S., including 1.2 million immigrants from the Caribbean nation. New York is the state with the largest Dominican population in the U.S., followed by New Jersey.

“New York is a very special place for the Dominican Republic,” said Águilas president Víctor García Sued. “The Dominican diaspora in New York and throughout the entire region strengthens us as an economy, as a country, with their contributions.”

Tigres vice president Miguel Guerra Armenteros added: “They are going to be able to feel the warmth of winter baseball, not only the Dominican diaspora, but all baseball follows generally, from different Latino communities and local groups. It’s an excellent opportunity to promote baseball in this whole community.”

Right before the press conference began, Dominican-born Mets outfielder Starling Marte, who has played in six LIDOM seasons, including two with the Águilas, presented García and Guerra with Mets jerseys featuring the names of their respective clubs.

Also present at Thursday's event was LIDOM vice president and former Major Leaguer Winston Llenas, who revealed that the series will be dedicated to Osvaldo “Ozzie” Virgil, who in 1956 became the first Dominican-born player in the Majors when he debuted with the New York Giants. Virgil moved to New York City in his youth and signed with the Giants after finishing high school.

The November series will be a matchup between LIDOM’s two winningest franchises: Licey captured its 23rd title last year and went on to be crowned champion of the Caribbean Series in Venezuela, while the Águilas won their 22nd title in franchise history in 2021.

Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio, a Dominican native who has played the last three winter seasons with Licey and was named LIDOM MVP last season, described the intensity of the games between the longtime rivals:

“The best,” he said in Spanish. “You feel the energy, the competition. Those are the types of games that help you improve.”

Dominican shortstop Geraldo Perdomo of the D-backs, who played six games with the Águilas during the 2022-23 campaign, believes there will be a great turnout for the series.

“I think the stadium is going to be packed, I imagine,” said Perdomo, whose D-backs wrapped up a series against the Mets in Queens on Thursday, in Spanish. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, a really great experience for fans here in New York.”

The games in New York won’t count towards the official standings of the LIDOM 2023-24 championship season, which begins on Sunday, Oct. 19. And although it’s too soon to know which players will participate due to the league’s high roster turnover, both García and Guerra vowed that their clubs would field the best teams possible to try to win the series.

“We are aware of what this event represents, and we are committed in body and soul,” said García, adding, "I am sure it will be majestic.”

“On the part of the Tigres del Licey, you can count on the same roster that plays the day before will be the same one that will be here in the United States,” said Guerra.

Tickets for the "Titans of the Caribbean" series go on sale on Sept. 26. Proceeds will benefit a non-profit organization that promotes youth baseball and related activities in the D.R. and the U.S.

Although the future of the series beyond 2023 has not been determined at this time, the LIDOM officials expressed optimism that it will not be a one-time event.

“We are very open to this becoming a long-term commitment,” said Llenas.

Nathalie Alonso is part of the editorial team of LasMayores.com, the official MLB page in Spanish. Follow her on Twitter _@NathalieMLB._