2024 Dominican Republic Tour Recap and Photo Log
Next Dominican Republic Winter Ball Adventure: November 7-17, 2025
Days One & Two — November 9 & 10, 2024
DR Tour Recap Days 1-2: So good to be back in the Dominican Republic for our fifth annual tour of the Dominican baseball machine!
After Pachy gave us an enlightening presentation on the Dominican culture on and off the baseball field, we had our welcome dinner at a local favorite spot for typical Dominican food – El Conuco. Highlights of the meal were mofongo, stewed goat, coconut flan, and high-energy traditional dance accompanied by LOUD music.
Day 2 started with our annual visit to achy’s hometown of Pantoja to support the Triunfadores baseball program. They rolled out the red carpet for us with a presentation of their program that included attendance by approximately 80 young ballplayers in their program and their parents and two local professional players: Anel Cabrera of the Angels and Alejandro Mendez of the Orioles. It was a really special and inspirational ceremony highlighted by a few touching speeches and a massive equipment donation on behalf of the JapanBall tour guests. What an honor to be able to support a program doing such great work in the community!
We then visited the oldest market in the country, where guests could purchase typical Dominican souvenirs. Highlights were beautiful, native Larimar stones and hats of the Dominican baseball teams.
Lunch was at one of Anthony Bourdain’s old haunts, the legendary Barra Payan. This counter-style sandwich joint serves out simple and delicious sandwiches, as well as fresh fruit smoothes mixed with Carnation condensed milk, also known as “Ca.”
Unfortunately, the rain didn’t let up early enough for us to get our first LIDOM game in. Bummer! The silver lining is that we were still granted entry into the stadium, as well as the home team’s administrative offices to see their championship trophies. A few players were lingering around and were very gracious with their time. Domingo Acevedo and Junior Lake may not be big stars to most American fans, but they are studs in the winter league here and also happened to be the favorites of a few of our guests, so that worked out well!
Day Three — November 11, 2024
DR Tour Day 3 began with a visit to Estadio La Normal, the country’s first ballpark that has a rich history but is in a crumbling state. It’s almost beautiful how worn it is, but is also a shame that it’s not better maintained by the local government. Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers played here in 1948, Joe Louis fought here, and Juan Soto grew up playing in youth leagues here, but it almost has a dystopian vibe. It sure is photogenic in its own way…
Speaking of photogenic, we then stopped at Independence Plaza and the Altar to the Fatherland, an oasis in the bustling capital. The plaza is where independence (from Haiti, not Spain) was declared in 1822 and serves as “kilometro 0” in Santo Domingo. The marble mausoleum at the park’s end houses the remains on the three founding fathers of the DR.
Lunch was the ultimate Dominican experience. We pulled up plastic chairs in a Colmado to get shelter from the rain and ordered six pounds of roasted pork belly. It’s the best chicharrón in Santo Domingo, and the accompaniment of boiled yucca, cold Presidente, and holiday bachata music made for a fun meal.
The day ended with a private visit and tour of Major League Baseball’s Dominican Republic Office. It is MLB’s only operations office outside of New York City and the staff was exceedingly generous with their time, explaining all the functions of the office in an informative presentation. Thank you @mlbdominicana!
Day Four — November 12, 2024
On DR tour Day 4 we finally got a game in! And it was a great one, with the 2x defending champs, hometown Tigres del Licey beating the Gigantes del Cibao in an exciting, back and forth game at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo.
We started the game with a tour of the historic Colonial Zone, watching the changing of the guard and taking a “train” around the area. This was the first city in “the new world” and there were many interesting historic sites from Cristobal Colon and his contemporaries.
After that we had my favorite meal of the tour, “the best ribs in the Caribbean” from Parador Bellamar. It’s a favorite hangout of the baseball community and we were not let down as we got to meet all star pitcher #JohnnyCueto!
Our last stop before the game was at the “Casa Museo del Pelotero Dominicano Profesional,” a museum and hall of fame that honors all of the greatest Dominican players. Pretty unreal how many greats were born on this island!
Day Five — November 13, 2024
DR Tour Day 5 was our first-ever trip to the south of the country with tour guests and it was a big success! Our first stop was Estadio Juan Uribe, where the 2x World Series champion infielder has a development academy for local youth ballplayers. Juan was very generous with his time, detailing his inspiration for the academy and answering countless questions about his long career as an MLB infielder (Best manager? Bochy. Mentor? Neifi Perez.)
We then visited Academia Lluviz, from the renowned independent trainer Cachaza. It is one of the most impressive independent facilities in the country in both infrastructure and talent. Cachaza trained Franmil Reyes, Miguel Andujar, Franmil Reyes, and many current regarded prospects. These guys are getting top-notch hospitality and coaching as they get ready to sign with an MLB team!
Lunch was at Cachaza’s restaurant, Blu Mar Seafood Grill. It is a beautiful place with its own beach, and the seafood was top notch.
Our last stop was at Liga Deportivo Quezada, a relatively new and rapidly growing youth program run by Shane’s former MLB colleague Jose Luis Quezada. It is incredible that 200+ young ballplayers practice daily on this all-dirt, rock-clad field without a blade of grass in site. They don’t need a field or top-notch equipment, just a love of the game! We had an evening check-in at our next hotel, Hotel Casa Hemingway in Juan Dolio, which is a favorite of past tour guests. We have four incredible nights ahead of us with boutique seaside accommodations.
Day Six — November 14, 2024
DR Tour Day 6 started off with a visit to the Dominican academy of the Milwaukee Brewers. We received a tour of the facilities then settled in to watch an instructional league game between signed prospects of the Brewers and Detroit Tigers. Highlights included an impromptu meeting with Brewers hitting coach Luisa Gauci; the Brewers bringing us a lunch of sandwiches, fresh fruit, and juice; and front-row seats in a casual setting to a game between perhaps some of the game’s future stars.
We then visited Banco BHD, the official bank of MLB in the DR, to see their baseball exhibit and learn more about the Dominican signing system from Carlos Gomez, VP of MLB Accounts. Guests unanimously said it was the most interesting visit to a bank they’ve ever had!
The day ended with a walk to El Mesón for a delicious Spanish seafood meal – the paella was amazing!
Day Seven — November 15, 2024
DR tour Day 7 was a full one! We first visited a micro cigar factory to star off our day of touring San Pedro de Macorís, also known as “The Cradle of Shortstops.”
Then was our annual stop at Arias and Goodman Academy, one of the top independent trainer programs in the area. We took some swings in the cage, toured the impressive gym, and talked to Alfredo and his players.
Lunch was pasteles en hoja (Dominican tamales) from the famous Amable in the heart of San Pedro. It was the perfect base to absorb our rum tastings from at our next stop, Barcelo rum’s Historical Center. We learned about the rum process, had lots of tastings, and bought bottles at factory prices!
Finally, it was game time. The Toros del Este hosted the Tigres del Licey in La Romana. It was an exciting game with a big comeback by the Toros that turned into an even bigger, and pretty sloppy, comeback by Licey. The visitors were represented well by a lively Friday night crowd, and sent the Toros home with a crushing loss.
Day Eight — November 16, 2024
DR Tour Day 8 was a needed hotel day at our beautiful seaside #HotelCasaHemingway. Guests enjoyed delicious food and drink, massages, and time at our hotel’s various pools and private beach.
In the evening we headed to Estadio Tetelo Vargas in San Pedro de Macorís (known as “The Cradle of Shortstops”), to see the hometown Estrellas Orientakes take on Licey. The lively Saturday night crowd was united in their dismay for Licey, and they danced to the exits after a victory. One super fan in a green suit even was handing out tissues to the Licey fans on the way out!
Day Nine & Ten — November 17 & 18, 2024
DR Tour Days 9 and 10: final segment! We leave the Caribbean Sea in Juan Dolio and head north to the Cibao region.
After a lunch stop at the famous Típico Bonoa for Dominican classics we dropped our bags and headed the Estadio Cibao, home of the Águilas Cibaeñas, who are managed by rookie skipper Yadier Molina. Yadi’s counterpart in today’s matchup? Albert Pujols! An incredible matchup of two future HOFers and former Cardinals teammates.
It was a rollicking game that featured a grand slam from each team! The Águilas sent the frenzied weekend crowd home happy despite Jean Segura’s grand slam.
We started Day 10 with a trip to Bartolo Colon stadium in his hometown of Altamira. Bartolo started this am itious project basically as soon as he could afford it, around 2001. It on three years to carve out the side of a mountain to install the stadium facilities. Bartolo wasn’t there but we were able to talk to him on a video call! In addition to speaking to Bartolo we also saw his little museum and custom racing dune buggies and played games of #vitilla and #laplaca, two versions Dominican stickball.
We headed back to town for a visit to Santiago’s monument and its unmatched views of the Cibao valley. OF course, just steps away from the monument to the fatherland is a monument to the greatest ball players on the hometown Águilas!
Lunch was at a local food truck park and then an afternoon of rest and pool time at the hotel before another Águilas game at Estadio Cibao, this time against their regional rivals, Los Gigantes del Cibao. Our third grand slam in two days helped lead to a blowout win by the Gigantes, but at least we saw a very theatric ejection by Águilas manager Yadier Molina! He kicked dirt on the mound, got behind home and caught an imaginary pitch at called an imaginary strike, and covered the plate with dirt!