He stayed for Monday.
The official list of players that will make up the Criollos de Caguas edition that will represent Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series was discussed on Saturday by the management of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) and that of the recently crowned champions , but various situations prevented a final list from being reached.
This was stated by the president of the LBPRC, Juan Flores Galarza, who indicated that the practices of the team that debuts in the Santo Domingo 2022 Caribbean Series on Friday against the Los Santos Astronauts, from Panama, will take place after 4:30 pm this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
“We have situations of players with passport problems and others who played with limitations imposed by their organizations in Major League Baseball, that although it is in a closure those limitations were agreed before and we must honor them. We are also giving space because there could be adjustments in the size of the rosters or to bring in players who are inactive in case there are positives (for COVID),” said Flores Galarza.
Without wanting to mention names, he explained that “the backbone of the team comes from the Caguas roster and we will reinforce that group,” adding that in the final list there could be players from all the LBPRC teams. The Criollos already have the outfielder on their roster Roby Enriquez and to the right pitcher Ricardo Velez, whom they chose from the RA12 as reinforcements for the semifinal series against the Cangrejeros de Santurce.
He said that on Saturday the tournament directors of the countries participating in the Caribbean Series had a meeting in which the expansion of the rosters or the inclusion in the delegations of inactive players who can replace teammates in case of outbreaks were discussed as alternatives. of COVID, and stated that on Monday the presidents of the participating leagues will have another meeting on the matter.
Likewise, the other leagues are being consulted about the availability of players who played in other tournaments and later played in Puerto Rico, and what would be the procedure in case Puerto Rico wishes to summon them.
Although he did not reveal names, it is known that the Criollos have players like Engel Beltre (Dominican Republic), Mitch Lively (Mexico) and Nivaldo Rodriguez (Venezuela) that apparently would need permits from the leagues of those countries. Another whose inclusion could be speculated is the American pitcher Daryl Thompson, who pitched with the Dominican Republic’s Chosen One before joining the Indios de Mayagüez.
Others who could be included would be the Most Valuable Player of the campaign, Danny Ortiz; the receiver of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Roberto ‘Bebo’ Pérez, both from the Indios de Mayagüez, and the Most Valuable Player of the final, David Vidal, who came to the Criollos from Santurce as a reinforcement.
“There was a shortlist that included about 40 names and (Jesús) ‘Motorita’ Feliciano with Ramón Vázquez and Edwards Guzmán are contacting the players they are interested in, and then, once they do so, we find out if they have a passport or not or if they have restrictions from their teams,” said Flores Galarza.
“On Monday we will announce the team and those chosen will undergo a rapid COVID test to rule out positives. Then, we will do an official test on Tuesday that we are required to do 48 hours before traveling, ”said the league leader.
