Mexico's Dominance in the Caribbean Series
The 2025-2026 Winter Leagues, a showcase of baseball talent across the Caribbean, unfolded from November to January in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Each league's playoffs culminated in a fierce competition for the Caribbean Series championship. Initially, Venezuela was set to host the series, but concerns over political issues and player safety led to a last-minute shift to Mexico, resulting in Venezuela's withdrawal and Mexico's entry with two teams.
Dominican Champions: Leones del Escogido
Leones del Escogido, the Dominican champions, boasted a lineup featuring former Padres players. Catcher Martin Maldonado, outfielder Franchy Cordero, and infielder Eguy Rosario contributed significantly during the league championship. Cordero stood out as the only player among the three who participated in the series. RHP Francis Pena, a top Padres prospect and major league invitee, closed out the championship game for Escogido, managed by the legendary Albert Pujols.
Puerto Rican Representatives: Canorejeros de Santurce
Canorejeros de Santurce, Puerto Rico's team, secured their league title by three games. However, they faced offensive challenges throughout the series, ultimately finishing in third place after a semi-final exit.
Panama's Federales de Chiriqui
Federales de Chiriqui, Panama's entry, included former Padre Christian Bethancourt as their catcher. Despite their efforts, they went winless in the tournament, finishing in last place.
Mexico's Double Representation: Charros de Jalisco and Tomateros de Culiacan
Mexico's presence was doubled with Charros de Jalisco as the league champions and Tomateros de Culiacan in second place, replacing Venezuela. Charros, known as Mexico Red, featured Padres prospects Tirso Ornelas and his older brother, Julian. Julian, an outfielder, was their No. 2 hitter, posting a .308 average and .857 OPS. Benji Gil, a former World Series champion major leaguer, managed Mexico Red and his son, Mateo Gil, played in the tournament.
Mexico Green, on the other hand, had former Padre Allan Cordoba in center field and newly signed minor league player Luis Verdugo as their shortstop and designated hitter. Verdugo, the older brother of Padres prospect Rosman Verdugo, impressed with a .381/.409/.476 line. Catcher Ali Solis, who played for the Padres in 2012, continued his journey with Mexico.
The Caribbean Series: A High-Octane Tournament
The Caribbean Series, a round-robin affair, saw the Dominican, Puerto Rican, and both Mexican teams advance to the semi-finals on Friday. Leones del Escogido, the defending champions with multiple MLB prospects, started strongly at 3-0 but faced setbacks, including a semifinal loss to Mexico Green. Mexico Red, in the other semifinal, defeated Puerto Rico.
The championship game between Mexico's two teams was a thrilling, over four-hour, 10-inning affair. Mexico Red emerged victorious, securing the title with two wild pitches in the bottom of the 10th inning. The tournament, held in Jalisco, Mexico, at an altitude of over 5,000 feet, was a testament to the players' resilience, with numerous hits and runs.
The final score was 12-11, with tired pitchers struggling to find their rhythm. Former Padre Odrisamer Despaigne pitched for Mexico Green but faced challenges, despite his strong performance in a previous start. He managed only 0.2 innings, allowing four earned runs.
Tirso Ornelas, a Padres prospect, struggled with his bat, hitting .236/.300/.292 in 21 games for Charros de Jalisco. His lack of power has been a hurdle in his pursuit of a spot on the Padres' 26-man roster.
Looking Ahead: WBC and Summer League
Many of these players will participate in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the Summer League, with some players playing almost year-round. This is not uncommon in the world of professional baseball.
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