SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic will enter the baseball competition at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 with a roster designed to capitalize on three key strengths: powerful hitting, a deep pitching staff and aggressive baserunning.
The host nation will compete in Group A alongside Puerto Rico, Cuba and Curaçao, while Group B includes Mexico, Panama, Colombia and Nicaragua. The Dominican team’s opening game is scheduled for Friday, July 31, when it faces Puerto Rico at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo.
Balanced Roster Built for a Gold Medal Run
General manager Luis Polonia Jr. said the roster was assembled after evaluating players based on experience, current form and physical condition to achieve the best balance across all areas of the game.
“We have built a team whose main strengths will be speed, hitting and a solid pitching staff,” Polonia said. “We are eager for July 31 to arrive so we can represent our country and compete for the gold medal.”
He added that the selected 24-player squad provides a combination of offense, defensive reliability and pitching depth that gives the Dominican Republic confidence heading into the tournament.
Mix of Veterans and Professional Talent
The roster combines former Major League players, experienced professionals and emerging talent.
Catchers: Pedro Severino and Julio Rodríguez.
Infielders: Jimmy Paredes, Yairo Muñoz, Michael de León, Alfredo Reyes, Deivi Muñoz and Omar Meregildo.
Outfielders: Gilberto Celestino, Raimel Tapia, Diego Hernández, Ricardo Céspedes Jr. and Juan Guerrero.
Pitchers: César Valdez, Óscar de la Cruz, Esmil Rogers, Jhan Maríñez, Enny Romero, Cristopher Molina, Carlos Belén, Fernando Abad, Jean C. Henríquez, Miguel Castro and Luis Peña.
Coaching Staff Confident Ahead of Opening Game
Manager Félix Fermín Jr. expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, highlighting the commitment and discipline shown by the players throughout training camp.
He said every opponent will present a challenge, but believes the Dominican Republic has the talent and determination to compete for the tournament title.
“We have seen commitment and discipline in every practice session, and that is reflected in the roster we are announcing today,” Fermín said. “We will take it one game at a time, knowing every opponent will give its best, while believing we have what it takes to win the gold medal.”
Federation Backs Strong National Team
Juan Núñez, president of the Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOBE), said assembling a competitive roster was one of the organization’s top priorities ahead of the regional event.
According to Núñez, the federation committed the necessary resources to build a team capable of representing the country on home soil and competing for the championship.
With home-field advantage and a roster blending experience, professional talent and athleticism, the Dominican Republic will look to begin its campaign with a victory over Puerto Rico before pursuing another baseball gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games.