In a dramatic finish that mirrored last season’s heroics, the Leones del Escogido clinched their 18th Dominican Professional Winter Baseball (Lidom) title Tuesday night, 27 January 2026, defeating the Toros del Este 1-0 at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo. The victory marks back-to-back championships for the franchise, solidifying their resurgence as a powerhouse in the Dominican Winter League. The Escogido won the championship closing winning four games and losing only one in the best of seven series.
The Tuesday game concluded with a spectacular defensive gem by right fielder Sócrates Brito, who leaped at the wall to rob Jeimer Candelario of a potential extra-base hit for the 27th out. The play served as a poetic bookend to the season, as Brito had made a similar game-ending catch against Licey in the previous year’s final.
The game’s only run came early in the first inning. Héctor Rodríguez reached on an infield hit and advanced to second on a single by Erik González. After both runners moved up on a groundout by Brito, Junior Lake hit a sharp grounder to the infield. Rodríguez’s aggressive baserunning allowed him to beat the throw home, providing a lead that the Escogido pitching staff defended to the end.
Pitching excellence and MVP honors
Venezuelan infielder Alcides Escobar was named the Final Series Most Valuable Player. Escobar posted a .333 batting average throughout the series while providing elite defense at third base.
Jefri Yan earned the win in relief, while Matt Foster secured the save. The Escogido bullpen navigated several high-leverage situations, most notably in the sixth inning when Derek West and Jefri Yan stranded Eloy Jiménez at third base after a lead-off triple. Toros starter Enny Romero took the tough-luck loss despite a dominant performance, allowing only five hits and one run over four-and-a-third innings.
The Santiago turnaround
The championship caps a remarkable turnaround led by interim manager Ramón Santiago. Santiago took over the clubhouse when the team sat in fifth place with a 13-18 record. Under his leadership, the “Duro de Matar” (Hard to Kill) Leones went 23-18, including 16 postseason wins, tying the franchise record held by Ken Oberkfell and Bruce Fields.
Following the trophy presentation, Santiago emphasized the “collective work” of the organization. “This success was a product of teamwork,” Santiago said, crediting the front office led by Carlos Peña and José Miguel Bonetti, as well as his coaching staff. “The players showed up to compete with intensity every single day. They are the primary reason for this championship.”
The celebration marks a historic milestone for Escogido, whose 18th crown was dedicated to Hall of Famer Juan Marichal in the league’s 72nd season.
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28 January 2026