Today loanDepot Park in Miami, the unofficial capital for Cubans in the United States will be scene of a battle between two Cubans in the main attraction tonight of the Serie del Caribe’s opening night. Raúl Valdés will take the mound for the Dominican Republic’s Tigres del Licey, while his countrymen Miguel Romero will toe the rubber for the Tiburones de La Guaira.
In this clash of two Caribbean titans Licey is looking to repeat as the champions of the tournament, while La Guaira makes its first appearance in the tournament in more than 40 years. Valdés who is pitching in his ninth Serie del Caribe is looking to become the winningest pitcher in the tournament’s history tying his fellow countrymen, Camilo Pascual.
Sources: Left-hander @RaulValdes56 will open the first game for the @TigresdelLicey against the @tiburones_net, with a victory the Antillean will equal his countryman Camilo Pascual as the winningest pitcher in the history of the @beisboldecaribe.
#CubanBaseballDigest… pic.twitter.com/conx4Aq8c4
— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) January 31, 2024
In this case of Romero the flamethrowing right-hander comes off an injury that saw him miss the whole postseason for the Venezuelan squad. The native of Guantánamo, Cuba started eight games for La Guaira and Culiacán posting a record of 3-3, 4.58 ERA and 16 strikeouts. In 37 ⅓ innings pitched the hurler had a 1.47 WHIP.
In epic battle of two hurler from the Largest of the Antilles, one looks to make history, while the other looks to impress scouts and find his way to an Asian circuit this summer. Come 8:30 PM expect a packed house in Little Havana for this epic clash of Caribbean powers. A victory tonight for either team could set the table for a championship or break the will of a squad.
Last minute change, due to internal circumstances, right-hander Miguel Romero will pitch today against @TigresdelLicey and will face his countryman @RaulValdes56.
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— Cuban Baseball Digest (@CBaseballDigest) February 1, 2024