2024 Caribbean Series Preview: Dominican Republic

[Kevin Barral]

We're taking team-by-team looks at each Caribbean Series participant, how they stack up against the rest of the competition and what connections they have to the Marlins.

Reigning Caribbean Series champion Dominican Republic is arguably the favorite to win the tournament again. Tigres del Licey defeated Estrellas Orientales in seven games to win the 2023-24 LIDOM title and their roster also includes players from the Dominican Winter League's other teams.

Overall, Licey has 11 Caribbean Series titles (1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2023).

That being said, we all saw what happened to D.R. in the World Baseball Classic, where they didn't escape the pool play round. Anything can happen when the sample size is so small. 

 

Dominican Republic's Roster

 

Marlins Connections

With Vidal Bruján unable to participate, the biggest Marlins connection to D.R.'s team is the MVP of the LIDOM Round Robin, Emilio Bonifacio. From 2009-2012, Bonifacio was with the Fish and ended his career slashing .271/.332/.345/.677 with seven home runs, 84 RBIs and a 83 OPS+. He is one of two former players in the Caribbean Series to have played with the Florida Marlins.

Bonifacio has been playing in the Dominican Winter League since 2006, but continued to get better as he went along in his LIDOM career. Now 38 years old, Bonifacio stole 14 bases during the LIDOM regular season and eight more in their Round Robin. The former Marlin not only brings experience through his many years in LIDOM, but through his time playing in the Caribbean Series itself, slashing .342/.438/.487/.925 with one home run and eight RBIs. His primary position is center field.

 

Notable Players

Pitchers

Brooks Hall, Jorge Martinez, Andy Otero, Raul Valdes and Cesar Valdez are listed as the starters for the Dominican Republic .

Although Hall has struggled for the Tigres del Licey this season, he has only seen a limited amount of action, which is 5 ⅔ innings. Hall should be a fresh arm for the team and provide length.

Despite zero Major League experience, Jorge Martinez is proving to have his best winter ball season posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 18 strikeouts and eight walks in 25 ⅔ innings pitched. Martinez does have some Minor League experience, but has not been with any MLB affiliate since 2019.

Andy Otero provides recent Minor League experience, throwing in the 2022 season, but in 2023, he was a part of team Panama in the World Baseball Classic, so he has experience not only pitching in loanDepot park, but pitching in loud environments. With the Estrellas this season, Otero had a 2.61 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and 15 walks in 31 innings of action.

Raul Valdes proves to be the starter with the most amount of MLB experience, pitching from 2010-2014. His stops at the Major League level were with the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. He has made 12 career Caribbean Series starts, posting a 3.67 ERA in 68 ⅔ innings pitched. Valdes is the oldest player in the tournament (age 46).

Along with Valdes, Cesar Valdez is the starter with most recent Major League action, having pitched in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels. With the Tigres this year, Valdez has a 3.46 ERA in 52 innings pitched. He also saw action in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, so he is no stranger to this atmosphere.

Out of the bullpen, Fernando Abad has been lights out in his 11 appearances, posting a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings pitched. He most recently pitched with the Colorado Rockies in the 2023 season, but has been in the majors since 2010, where he began his career with the Houston Astros.

J.C. Mejía has been with Licey since 2020. As he has been doing since arriving onto the scene in LIDOM, Mejía had a productive winter ball season, posting a 2.76 ERA in 16 ⅓ innings pitched. Just like most of the bullpen, Mejía has Major League experience.

Joining the Dominican Republic's bullpen is Pedro Payano who posted a 0.53 ERA in 17 innings pitched. He should be a high-leverage guy out of the bullpen. This will be Payano's first Caribbean Series.

 

Position Players

Although Robinson Cano is in the twilight of his baseball career, he brings veteran leadership to a fairly young team in some aspects, but when you need him in a big moment, he will step up. His career slash line at loanDepot park is .254/.266/.524/.789 with four home runs and eight RBIs. 

One of the best overall players in the Dominican Winter League is former Chicago Cubs outfielder and a name that Marlins fans remember very well is Junior Lake. Most notably known for shushing the Marlins dugout when he hit a home run off of Dan Harren, which led to a benches clearing, but in winter ball, Lake has been dominant. In 2023, Lake has slashed .237/.340/.339/.679 with four home runs and 20 RBIs.

Despite his many years in winter ball, this will mark Lake's first Caribbean Series. Now, despite a down season in 2023, for his career, Lake has slashed .262/.362/.379/.741 with 42 home runs and 220 RBIs. Expect to see Lake move around the outfield.

One of the best overall hitters on this Dominican Republic roster is former Chicago White Sox utility man Leury García. This season for the Gigantes del Cibao, he slashed .340/.406/.436/.842 with 12 RBIs. He should move around the infield along with providing depth in the outfield. Always good versatility to have on your team.

The only Cuban native on the Dominican Republic roster will be outfielder and former Washington National Yadiel Hernandez. Through his three seasons with the Nationals (2020-22), Hernández slashed .267/.315/.412/.727 with 19 home runs and 79 RBIs. With Águilas Cibaeñas this season, he slashed .302/.407/.343/.750 with 20 RBIs. He should slot in as a right fielder or designated hitter for the Dominican Republic.

Other current/former Major Leaguers on the position player side include Sergio Alcantara, Kelvin Gutiérrez, Dawel Lugo and Luis Barrera.

 

Serie del Caribe Schedule

• February 1 vs. Venezuela, 8:30 p.m.
• February 2 at Nicaragua, 3:30 p.m.
• February 3 at Puerto Rico, 8:30 p.m.
• February 4 vs. México, 8:30 p.m.
• February 6 vs. Curacao, 3:30 p.m.
• February 7 at Panamá

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