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The final out of the baseball season is made. One team celebrates, the other watches in heartbreak. An all too familiar image. Baseball ends and gives way to winter sports like hockey and basketball.
But what if there was a world where the sport of baseball continued, the bats cracked and the gloves popped. There is, and it’s a beautiful one. One where the passion is unmatched, the energy that permeates through the players. That is winter baseball and I’m here to tell you about it.
There are multiple forms of winter ball. The most popular being the Dominican League.
You have probably heard of it in passing when learning about one of your favorite Latin MLB players going down there to play for a few games to help stay in shape. The league itself is the highest level of baseball in the Dominican Republic, running an initial schedule of 50 games to form the four team field that plays for a spot in the Caribbean Series.
This season was arguably one of the most popular here in the states with games streaming on the MLB app and the playoffs airing on MLB Network. The season included players like the Guardians players Gabriel Arias and Pedro Avila. MLB stars such as Ronald Acuña have even had recent stints in the league.
The champions of the league, Leones del Escogido, were the last team into the postseason, finishing with a losing record but advancing to the championship to join the third place team, Tigres del Licey.
This series was one for the ages, going seven games with passion and even tense moments. The series started with bat confiscations but ended in a brilliant game seven that included a home run from Junior Caminero. This home run went viral for the reaction of the crowd and the bat flip.
A bat flip and passionate moment that brings me back to the summer days where me and the buddies were out competing for a state title.
After this championship, came the Caribbean Series.
The series, which was held last year in the U.S. for the first time, brings in all the Latin America champions, and for the first time in this edition, Japan. This year included five teams, and they all played each other once, with the top four advancing to the knockout stage.
Back in the spotlight would be the Dominican League champions, finishing in a three-way tie for second at 2-2. Seeded third, they won their semifinal game before heading into the final with Mexico who was undefeated throughout the tournament.
In what was a very fun matchup, the Dominican Republic won a tight 1-0 ballgame on a double play by Robinson Canó who scored the game’s only run. The game had its moments and passion as future first ballot hall of famer Albert Pujols managed the team known as the “pickled lions” to a 5th Caribbean Series and the 23rd overall title as a nation.
Next winter will conclude with international baseball, the absolutely incredible World Baseball Classic. Qualifiers for the last spots are currently taking place in Taipei, Taiwan, with a second qualifier scheduled for March 2-6 in Tucson, Arizona.
As teammates at any level of baseball form bonds and compete at an elite level, or prepare for seasons to begin when it’s officially spring, it brings to a fitting end, the beauty that is winter baseball.
Stone O’Bryant is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].
