The 2025 Caribbean Series in Mexicali, Mexico, gives us a glimpse of the annual tournament’s future, while also featuring the four teams that made up the event’s traditional lineup for decades.

Different from the recent Caribbean Series -- which featured relatively new nations to the tournament such as Curaçao, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia -- the 67th edition at Nido de las Águilas Stadium has just five teams. The four mainstays and permanent members of the Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball -- Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic -- are represented. In addition, Japan is also participating for the first time, sending a club from Japan Breeze composed of their multiple leagues and levels.

The entire 2025 Caribbean Series is being broadcast in English on MLB Network, MLB.TV and MLB Network Direct. The series got going on Friday with Venezuela facing the Dominican Republic, followed by Puerto Rico-Mexico at 11 p.m. ET.

The Japan team, along with the Winter League champions from the other four countries, play a round-robin elimination stage Friday through Monday, followed by a semifinal knockout stage, a third-place game and finally, the championship game on Feb. 7.

The president of the Caribbean Confederation, Juan Francisco Puello Herrera, told MLB.com this week that he will seek to expand the tournament’s reach next year, eyeing the inclusion of a South Korean squad for the 2026 tournament in Caracas, Venezuela, and a team from Japan once again.

In Mexicali this year, one of the most notable names is Albert Pujols. In his first foray into managing after a Hall of Fame caliber Major League career, Pujols won the Dominican League championship at the helm of the Leones del Escogido.

“We were able to do it with dedication, work and a tremendous group,” Pujols said Monday at Santo Domingo’s Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal after his club defeated Tigres del Licey in a deciding Game 7.

In the history of the Caribbean Series, teams from the Dominican Republic have won the most championships with 22, followed by Puerto Rico (16), Mexico (nine), Cuba (eight), Venezuela (eight), Panama (two) and Colombia (one).

Here is an overview of the five teams competing for the 2025 Caribbean Series crown:

Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic)
Manager: Albert Pujols
Championship history: Four Caribbean Series titles (1988, 1990, 2010, 2012)

How they got here: The Leones defeated their intracity rivals from Santo Domingo, Tigres del Licey, in a tight and drama-filled seven-game series to win their first championship since 2016. Game 7 was particularly memorable, with Rays third baseman Junior Caminero’s tie-breaking 454-foot home run in the top of the ninth, followed by former D-backs outfielder Sócrates Brito’s game-saving catch with two out and two on in the bottom of the frame to secure the win.

Notable players: Former Major Leaguers Robinson Canó, Johnny Cueto, Alex Colomé, Fernando Abad and Francisco Mejía will provide veteran presence. Caminero will not continue with the club in the Caribbean Series, but Brito -- one of the Leones’ best performers during the Dominican League postseason -- will play.

Japan Breeze (Japan)
Manager: Alex Ramírez
Championship history: No Caribbean Series titles

How they got here: Japan Breeze, based in Yokohama, is a club dedicated to exhibition baseball and composed of players from Nippon Professional Baseball, independent Minor Leagues and industrial leagues in the country. Its manager, Ramírez, is a native of Venezuela, a former Major League outfielder and a standout in NPB from 2001-13 with Yakult Swallows, Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama Bay Stars. He hit 380 home runs during that stretch. Ramírez managed the Bay Stars after his retirement as an active player, and he has since been inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

After agreeing to participate in this year’s Caribbean Series, Japan Breeze played against the Venezuelan League All-Star Team in December as a warmup for this tournament.

Notable players: Former Major Leaguer infielder Munenori Kawasaki, as well as Bay Stars right-hander Aki Watanabe and veteran NPB left-hander Shuto Sakurai.

Indios de Mayagüez (Puerto Rico)
Manager: Wil Cordero
Championship history: Two Caribbean Series titles (1978, 1992)

How they got here: Mayagüez defeated the Senadores de San Juan in six games to win the 2024-25 title in Puerto Rico.

Notable players: Former MLB infielder Cordero will lead a Mayagüez squad that includes current and former Major Leaguers Emmanuel Rivera, Eddie Rosario, Isán Díaz and Henry Ramos. The pitching staff will include Dereck Rodríguez, former MLB hurler and son of Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.

Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela)
Manager: Henry Blanco
Championship history: No Caribbean Series titles

How they got here: The Cardenales defeated the Bravos de Margarita in six games to capture the championship series in Venezuela.

Notable players: Long-time Major League catcher and coach Blanco, who led the Lara club to its seventh Venezuelan League championship, will manage a squad with current and former Major Leaguers Ildemaro Vargas, Edwin Escobar, Alexi Amarista, Ali Sánchez and Hernán Pérez.

Charros de Jalisco (Mexico)
Manager: Benji Gil
Championship history: No Caribbean Series titles

How they got here: After leading the Tomateros de Culiacán to four Mexican Pacific League titles from 2015-21, former Major League infielder Gil -- who notably led Team Mexico to the semifinals in the 2023 World Baseball Classic -- has added another championship to his resume, this time at the helm of Charros, based in Guadalajara. His Jalisco club defeated his former team, Tomateros, in six games in the Championship Series.

Notable players: Former Major League outfielder Billy Hamilton will continue to spark the top of the lineup and defense for the Charros club, which will also have former Major Leaguers Manny Bañuelos, Stephen Nogosek and Jack Mayfield on its roster -- in addition to Gil’s son, Mateo Gil.