The Cibao Giants, current Dominican winter baseball national champions, will defend their title at home this Saturday at the Julián Javier Stadium, against the Águilas Cibaeñas, where the opening ceremony of the 2022-2023 tournament will be held, with a special dedication to Tomás Troncoso. The game will start at 8 p.m.
The Giants have the challenge of emulating the Leones del Escogido, the last team to win two consecutive titles, a feat accomplished in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. If it materializes, it would be their third title in history.
This team, founded in 1996 as Gigantes del Nordeste and later renamed Pollos del Cibao for several years, has proclaimed that Cibao is Giant, making a clear reference to its regional rivalry with the Águilas Cibaeñas.
Luis “Pipe” Urueta returns with the Cibaeño team. He has been the manager in both Giants finals and has created a winning philosophy in recent seasons.
Jesús Mejía, manager of the year in Lidom, who will remain in the operational position with the national champions for the next three seasons, affirmed that the goal is the championship and for this he has the necessary pieces.
From the first day, the all-time leader in home runs in Lidom, Juan Francisco, Kelvin Gutiérrez, Webster Rivas, Richard Ureña, along with Cuban reinforcements Henry Urrutia and Wladimir Balentín, will take to the field. They will have the presence of veterans Carlos Peguero, Carlos Paulino and Moisés Sierra.
In the starting rotation, Pedro Fernández and Jorge Martínez continue in order. In relief, Jumbo Díaz, Michael Ynoa, Fernando Rodney, and reinforcement Jefrey Niño.
The players with big league lineage who will repeat with the team this season are: José Sirí, Hanser Alberto and Marcell Ozuna, who will join when he finishes with the Atlanta Braves in the postseason.
Meanwhile, Leury García, Ketel Marte and Jean Segura, established players in the Major Leagues, have already expressed their interest in participating in this season.
Águilas chasing crown 23
The Águilas Cibaeñas seek this season to revalidate their condition of having more championships in Dominican baseball. They currently have 22 titles, the same amount as the Tigres del Licey. Last season, they settled for last place in the round robin.
Two seasons ago, they lifted the championship in San Francisco de Macorís, against the Gigantes del Cibao.
José Leger will be their manager, starting for the first time on an opening day in winter ball. The winning tradition and the mystique of the yellow team will be a great challenge for the young manager who comes with the label of being a good strategist.
Ángel Ovalles affirmed that the mixture of experience and the great nucleus of youngsters and veterans will be the key for the Eagles to win important games early.
The yellow team will have important veteran figures in the squad: Yoenis Céspedes, Melky Cabrera, Ramón Torres, captain Juan Carlos Pérez and youngsters Julio Rodríguez and Alexander Canario.
At 40 years old, the Cuban Yunesky Maya has the responsibility of guiding the pitching staff of the Águilas Cibaeñas, in which the presence of Carlos Martínez also stands out, who lives in limbo in the United States, facing a suspension for violating doping rules. The reinforcement David Holmberg, Osvaldo Bidó and Marcos Diplán complete their rotation.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., with the presence of the main directors of the Dominican Baseball League at the Julián Javier Stadium.
Tommy Troncoso
Tommy Troncoso, son of the immortal Don Tomás Troncoso, to whom the tournament is dedicated, will be in charge of launching the first pitch at the opening ceremony.
Pitchers
Richelson Peña will take the mound for the Cibao Giants, while veteran Yunesky Maya will be responsible for pitching for the Cibaeña Eagles.