Santo Domingo. Prospect Felnin Celestén, considered one of the main promises of Dominican baseball, is already training with the Toros del Este, after having been selected as the first pick of the 2025 Rookie Draft of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM).

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The 19-year-old shortstop, belonging to the Seattle Mariners, arrived at the bullfighting training sessions at the beginning of the week and has already seen action in three preseason games, competing for the starting position at the number six position for the Opening Day of the winter campaign, scheduled for October 15. The general manager of the Bulls, Jesús Mejía, defined the young player as “a solid shortstop, who brings athleticism, speed and a dynamic bat”, highlighting the importance of his arrival to reinforce the infield of the Romanense team. Celestén, a native of Guaymate, La Romana, signed with the Mariners in 2023 for a bonus of US$4.7 million, the highest awarded by the organization in the international free agent market that year. In his time in Class A and Class A strong in 2025, he recorded an average of .273 (115 hits in 421 at-bats), with 6 home runs, 59 RBIs, 58 runs scored, 19 doubles and 3 triples. “First of all, I thank God and then the Toros staff for taking me into account in the draft. I felt very good being selected. For me, who am from La Romana, it’s a dream to play here, in my town,” the player expressed excitedly after Friday’s practice. In addition to Celestén, the Toros have recently received major leaguers Marco Luciano and Sixto Sánchez, along with imports Matt Dermody and R.J. Alaniz. Infielders Iván Castillo, Manny Peña, Randy Guzmán and Francisco Urbáez have also joined, as well as pitchers José Adames, Grégory Louis, Anderson Bidó, Jesús Liranzo and Valentín Linares. With these additions, the orange team continues its preparation with a view to competing from day one in the 2025-26 winter tournament.