2021 63rd Caribbean Series logo (image from Baseball Prospectus)

63rd Caribbean Series — Serie del Caribe

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

It all begins Sunday January 31, in sunny Mazatlán, México, at Teodoro Mariscal Stadium. Teams from Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, México, Colombia, Venezuela and Panamá will take to the field. Cuba who took part from 2014 to 2019 is absent for the second year in a row; last year Cuba did not secured visas for their players traveling to Puerto Rico.

Cuba a dominant power at the beginning of this tournament from 1949 to 1960, (in 1949 the Serie del Caribe was founded in Cuba) but after 1960 Cuba’s government nationalized all sports, eradicated professionalism (including baseball) and things have never been the same. These days Cuba’s talent is basically defecting to the US to play in the Major Leagues.

All the games will be played at Teodoro Mariscal Stadium; fan capacity will be limited to 7,200 fans, that is up to 45% of capacity. Players have to abide by Mexican covid-19 protocols as well as those in attendance. Mazatlán is a resort town on the Pacific Coast of México with a population of over 500,000 very popular with tourist along with Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

The Dominican Republic is considered the favorites; they won last year as they defeated Puerto Rico in the championship game. Their teams Aguilas Cibaeñas, have current and ex-major league player’s reinforcement, with Robinson Canó, Melky Cabrera, Jonathan Villar, Ronald Gúzman, and Luis Medina, who is one of the NY Yankees top prospects, plus starters Carlos Martínez and César Valdez.

Puerto Rico’s biggest established star is St Louis Cardinals future Hall of Fame and current catcher Yadier Molina. Since his arrival he has been receiving the most attention by the Mexican sports media.

Sunday January 31, Day games, Panamá vs. Venezuela, Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic and Night game: México vs. Colombia. The rest of the week until Thursday four teams will play each day. On Friday the Semifinals will take place, four (4) teams and the Serie culminates with the final two (2) this next Saturday February 6, when a new champion will be crowned.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com