Receiver Gary Sánchez and reliever Jeurys Familia were hired by the Leones del Escogido, as confirmed by the Operations Department of the scarlet team.
Sánchez and Familia join outfielders Junior Lake, Abraham Almonte and Yeison Asencio, infielders Orlando Calixte, Wendell Rijo and Sandber Pimentel, as well as pitchers Carlos Martínez and Jenrry Mejía, among the group of unrestricted free agents signed by the Lions .
“Our Operations department has complied with adding depth to our native reserve. We are happy to receive Gary and Jeurys because they are players who can help us win with their Major League experience and are currently in a stage of their careers in which they will be useful in Lidom”, highlighted José Miguel Bonetti Du-Breil, a member of the Chosen Board of Directors.
At 30 years old, Sánchez accumulates 8 years of experience in the Majors that include two visits to the All-Star Game, 154 home runs, 401 RBIs, 341 runs scored and an OPS of .778 in more than 600 games, most with the New York Yankees.
In Lidom he will be returning to the Lions, where he played briefly in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 championships. With the Toros del Este he participated in the 2013-14 and 2020-21 tournaments. For life in Creole professional baseball, he totaled 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, 6 doubles, 10 runs scored and an OPS of .687 in 42 games.
“With Gary we are further strengthening our native receiver depth while also improving with a mid-lineup presence. Receiving him again in the Chosen one gives us joy”, explained the general manager Luis Rojas.
Likewise, Familia has 11 seasons of experience in the Major Leagues, with a record of 34-28, 3.51 ERA, 125 saves and 568 strikeouts in 543.0 innings. In 2016 he was selected to his first and so far only All-Star Game.
The 33-year-old right-hander has pitched in four seasons with the Gigantes del Cibao, achieving his best performance in the Round Robin. In that stage his ERA has been 2.00, his WHIP is 1.17 and he has struck out 19 in 18.0 innings.
“His signing strengthens our closing relief with all his experience at the highest level,” Rojas said of Familia, who is currently trying to make the team with the Arizona Diamondbacks in spring training.
In the offseason, in addition to the unrestricted free agents signed by the longhairs, the club renewed its deals with pitchers Enny Romero, Iván Nova and Rhiner Cruz, with first baseman Aderlin Rodríguez and outfielder Jimmy Paredes. They also acquired shortstop Marco Luciano, giving up first baseman Jhonkensy Noel to the Estrellas Orientales.