It’s baseball time in the Dominican Republic with the start of the Professional Baseball League Winter Championship on Friday, 22 October in Santo Domingo, San Francisco de Macoris and San Pedro de Macoris stadiums. The opening game for Santo Domingo’s Quisqueya Ball Park has the Licey facing Escogido. In San Pedro de Macoris, it is the Estrellas Orientales against the Toros del Este. And in San Francisco de Macoris, the showdown will be between the Aguilas Cibaenas and the Gigantes del Cibao. Winter Baseball, especially the playoffs, is a time to see the Dominican Major League players in action. For instance, the same David Ortiz that has kept the Boston Red Sox in the semi-finals of U.S. baseball, was key to the Dominican Republic winning last year’s Caribbean championship.