Mexico's Dominance in the Caribbean Series
The 2025-2026 Winter Leagues, a prestigious baseball tournament, took place from November to January in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Each league's playoffs culminated in a championship, with the top teams advancing to the Caribbean Series.
Initially, Venezuela was set to host the series, but concerns over political issues and player safety led to a last-minute change. Venezuela withdrew its team, and Mexico stepped in as the new host, fielding two teams: Charros de Jalisco (Mexico Red) and Tomateros de Culiacan (Mexico Green).
Dominican Champions: Leones del Escogido
Leones del Escogido, the Dominican champions, boasted a strong lineup featuring former Padres players. Catcher Martin Maldonado, outfielder Franchy Cordero, and infielder Eguy Rosario all contributed during the league championship. Cordero was the only one of the three to make the series.
RHP Francis Pena, a top Padres prospect, closed the championship game for Escogido, showcasing his talent. Manager Albert Pujols led the team to success.
Puerto Rican Representatives: Canorejeros de Santurce
Canorejeros de Santurce, Puerto Rico's representative, won their league by a comfortable margin of three games. However, they faced offensive struggles throughout the series, finishing in third place after being eliminated in the semi-finals.
Panama's Federales de Chiriqui
Federales de Chiriqui, Panama's team, featured former Padre Christian Bethancourt as their catcher. Unfortunately, they went winless in the tournament, finishing in last place with a 0-4 record.
Mexico's Double Team Effort
Mexico's two teams showcased their depth and talent. Charros de Jalisco, led by manager Benji Gil, who also managed his son Mateo Gil in the tournament, won the league. Tomateros de Culiacan, finishing second, replaced Venezuela in the series.
Mexico Green's Lineup
Mexico Green's lineup included former Padre Allan Cordoba in center field and Luis Verdugo, a newly signed Padre minor league player, as their shortstop and designated hitter. Verdugo, the older brother of Padres prospect Rosman Verdugo, impressed with a .381/.409/.476 line.
The Caribbean Series
The Caribbean Series, a round-robin tournament, featured the Dominican, Puerto Rican, and both Mexican teams in the semi-finals on Friday. Leones del Escogido, the defending champions with multiple MLB prospects, started strongly at 3-0 but faced a setback, losing two consecutive games, including the semifinal against Mexico Green.
Mexico Red, in the other semifinal, defeated Puerto Rico. This set the stage for an exciting championship game between the two Mexican teams.
The final was a thrilling, high-scoring affair, played at over 5,000 feet altitude in Jalisco, Mexico. Mexico Red emerged victorious, winning on two wild pitches in the bottom of the 10th inning, despite the tired pitchers struggling to find their rhythm.
Individual Performances
Tirso Ornelas, a Padres prospect, played for Charros de Jalisco but struggled with a .236/.300/.292 batting average in 21 games. His lack of power hitting has been a hurdle in his pursuit of a spot on the Padres' 26-man roster.
Many players from this tournament will also participate in the WBC and the Summer League, highlighting the almost year-round commitment of these athletes.
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