The offense and pitching will be the main tools that manager Luis Urueta and the Gigantes del Cibao will have to compete in the Robin Round that starts this Monday, December 27 with two games, one of them in San Francisco de Macorís.
The team topped most offensive stats during the regular series, including team batting average at .251, as well as hits at 342 and OBP of .320.
Los Gigantes del Cibao were also the leaders in RBIs with 160 runs brought to the plate, in doubles with 71 and also the best in home runs with 25.
Although it was the team that stole the fewest bases with 20 and the fewest triples connected with just three, they were the best in runs scored with 184, at SLG .362 and OPS of .682
Undoubtedly, the weakest point during the season was the starting rotation, where it even had a negative 9-12 record and the team ERA was sixth in the league, but it was exactly the part that came out the most favored in the re-entry draw. by LIDOM.
The choice of starters Raúl Valdés and Enny Romero will offer great depth and a very good opportunity for the Giants to improve in that regard, since they will also continue to have the efficient arms of Richelson Peña, Tyler Alexander and Logan Ondrusek to complete their body. mount to start the games.
Alexander will start the first game of Round Robin. The 30-year-old veteran left-handed pitcher first worked in the Gigantes del Cibao uniform this season, where he led the team in wins (3) and strikeouts (29) after a seven-game performance as a starter. .
The left-hander went 3-3 with a 2.75 ERA, in a 36.0-inning job, where he allowed 32 hits, nine walks awarded and his 29 strikeouts, leaving his WHIP at 1.14.
Luis Urueta, who won the award for the best manager of the season for the second consecutive year, also reported who will be the pitchers for the following games.
Gigantes del Cibao pitching rotation
December 27 Vs Eagles Tyler Alexander (Z)
December 28 Vs Licey Raúl Valdés (Z)
December 29 Vs Stars Logan Ondrusek (D)
General manager Jesús Mejía expressed his satisfaction after the native and imported draw, because in addition to notably improving his starting rotation, he added four good arms to the bullpen, including the possibility of having the closer with Jenrry Mejía.
The chief executive of the club’s baseball operations said that most of the players will continue to play in the Robin Round and that they even feel a great commitment to finishing what they started last year.
"Until now we will have all our stars, players like Juan Francisco, Marcell Ozuna, Hanser Alberto, Ronald Guzmán, imported Henry Urrutia, Richard Ureña, Carlos Paulino, Webster Rivas, Carlos Peguero, Jordany Valdespin, Melvin Mercedes, captain Moisés Sierra, José Sirí, among others", said Mejía.
"It is possible that young people like Seuly Matías and perhaps Noelvi Marte will be stopped by their organizations, but we will have the possibility of having Kelvin Gutiérrez again, we believe that our nucleus will continue well"added.
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