Pujols at the helm in LIDOM as Winter Leagues gear up for 2024-25

With five days between the last Championship Series game and the start of the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers, which starts at 8:08 p.m. ET on Friday at Dodger Stadium, the baseball world might find itself in a bit of a lull with no postseason action to watch.

The good news? This doesn’t mean you have to go without your favorite sport. Winter League ball is in full swing, and it will remain that way until the 2025 Caribbean Series tournament of champions in Mexicali, Mexico, in February.

So, while the 2024 World Series champion is being determined, the professional baseball leagues in Latin America are taking shape. As usual in the Caribbean’s top leagues, the season, which is fewer than three months, brings a sense of urgency, creating a daily atmosphere of "win now."

Here’s what you need to know about the 2024-25 seasons of the four major Caribbean leagues.

Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)
Reigning champions: Tigres del Licey
Most championships: Tigres del Licey (24)
Teams: Tigres del Licey, Águilas Cibaeñas, Leones del Escogido, Toros del Este, Gigantes del Cibao, Estrellas Orientales

Guess who’s already made his managerial debut in LIDOM? None other than Albert Pujols, skippering the Santo Domingo-based Leones del Escogido, the club that for years he promised himself he’d play for and finally did in the 2021-22 season, just months before his MLB farewell tour with the Cardinals.

He couldn’t be doing any better so far, with the Escogido in first place through Monday after four consecutive wins to open the season.

“We give the credit to the players, not me,” Pujols said after the Leones' fourth straight victory. “4-0 is a great start, but this is a long season. Hopefully, it stays that way all year, but I know there will be tough times, and we are prepared for that with the leadership we have in the clubhouse with the veterans and young guys.”

The other Santo Domingo club, Licey, is on a quest for a three-peat, as the Tigres aim to extend their lead in all-time league championships over their rivals, the Águilas, who have 22 titles.

Additionally, in a league often filled with big names -- whether current or former MLB stars, local veterans or notable prospects -- Jordan Lawlar stands out this year. He is the D-backs' top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and the No. 9 prospect in baseball.

Wearing the Tigres uniform, Lawlar has been thrilled with LIDOM in his first few games in the country, even comparing the prestige of Licey to that of the Yankees.

You can follow the LIDOM action via MLB.TV.

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP)
Reigning champions: Tiburones de La Guaira
Most championships: Leones del Caracas (21)
Teams: Leones del Caracas, Tiburones de La Guaira, Navegantes del Magallanes, Tigres de Aragua, Caribes de Anzoátegui, Águilas del Zulia, Bravos de Margarita

The Venezuelan League features the reigning Caribbean Series champion, Tiburones de La Guaira, who wrapped up a dream season in 2023-24 by winning their first local title in 38 years and then capturing their first Caribbean Series title in front of a packed house at loanDepot park in Miami.

The Tiburones are once again the favorites for the 2024-25 season, with Ozzie Guillen returning as manager, along with notable names such as Alcides Escobar, Yasiel Puig, Franklin Barreto and others.

Leones del Caracas -- the most successful team in LVBP history with 21 championships -- Cardenales de Lara, last season’s runners-up, and Navegantes del Magallanes are among the favorites to challenge the reigning champions.

This growing rivalry between Leones and Tiburones, which has intensified in recent years, is one of the most intriguing stories to follow this season, with the modern rivals taking center stage in recent campaigns.

After just more than a week of play, the Navegantes -- thanks to a remarkable start from Renato Núñez (seven home runs in eight games) -- sit atop the standings entering Tuesday, followed by the Tigres de Aragua and Tiburones.

Mexican Pacific League (LMP)
Reigning champions: Naranjeros de Hermosillo
Most championships: Naranjeros de Hermosillo (17)
Teams: Águilas de Mexicali, Algodoneros de Guasave, Cañeros de Los Mochis, Charros de Jalisco, Mayos de Navojoa, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Sultanes de Monterrey, Tomateros de Culiacán, Venados de Mazatlán, Yaquis de Ciudad Obregón

After a 10-year title drought, the Naranjeros de Hermosillo finally returned to the top of the LMP in 2023-24, capturing their 17th championship and extending their all-time lead over the Tomateros de Culiacán, who are second with 13 titles.

However, it is the Tomateros who have started this season strong, leading the standings with six wins in their first eight games, thanks in part to Cristian Santana, who was named Player of the Week for the second consecutive time and leads the LMP in home runs (three), RBIs (nine) and OPS (1.271).

Notably, this 10-team league is the only one in the Caribbean with two regular-season phases: an initial round of 35 games for each team, followed by a second round of 33. Based on the standings, each team is awarded points, and the combined total determines the playoff qualifiers.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC)
Reigning champions: Criollos de Caguas
Most championships: Criollos de Caguas (21)
Teams: Criollos de Caguas, Gigantes de Carolina, Cangrejeros de Santurce, Leones de Ponce, Indios de Mayagüez, Senadores de San Juan

This is the only one of the four major Caribbean leagues that has yet to begin, with opening day scheduled for Nov. 7, when the Gigantes de Carolina take on the reigning champion Criollos de Caguas in a rematch of last season’s final.

One story to watch is the Criollos themselves, who have won three of the past four tournaments and five of the past eight, using this stretch to take the lead in LBPRC history, surpassing the Indios de Mayagüez, who have 19 titles.

Additionally, the start of the Puerto Rican circuit will have a unique twist, as the Cangrejeros de Santurce will open their season against the Criollos on Nov. 9 at loanDepot park in Miami as part of the “Choque de Gigantes” event. This event will also feature the Navegantes, Leones and Cardenales from Venezuela and the Estrellas from the Dominican Republic. The Puerto Rican clash will be counted as an official game.

Another noteworthy storyline is the return of the Senadores de San Juan -- competing under the RA12 name for the past four years -- will feature José Abreu, a Major League veteran and veteran of the Cuban National Series, as he looks to regain his form and return to MLB.

The original version of the Senadores de San Juan was founded in 1938 and won eight local championships and one Caribbean Series.