Leones del Escogido begin training with 26 players; Brito, Lake and Cordero lead the group

SANTO DOMINGO. – The Leones del Escogido opened their official training this Wednesday, with the presence of 26 players on the first day of practice. Among them were outfielders Sócrates Brito, Junior Lake and Franchy Cordero.

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“The boys were very happy to be here. That’s what you want to see, that there is that commitment. They are clear about the goal we have of becoming champions again,” said Carlos Peña, general manager of the scarlet team.

Peña highlighted that, although the organization celebrates the title won last season, the focus is on the new challenges: “We do not hide from the fact that last year we were champions, but we understand that that is already in the past. This is a year of new challenges and we have to face them in the best way.” In addition to the stellar gardeners, experienced pitchers like Phillips Valdez, Denyi Reyes, Diógenes Almengó, Iván Armstrong, and Rodolfo Martínez were also integrated. “Having all these pieces early, these league veterans, is so important because they are the ones who set the example. I love that we didn’t have to ask them to come, they do it on their own and it’s a tremendous sign,” added Peña.

La sesión de trabajo fue dirigida por Tony Díaz, asistente del dirigente Alex Cintrón, quien se encuentra aún cumpliendo compromisos con los Astros de Houston en Grandes Ligas. “La vibra fue excelente. Todo el mundo estuvo muy contento y con ánimo de estar aquí. Para ganar el campeonato, que es nuestra meta, hay que empezar a ganar un día a la vez y creo que al concluir la jornada de hoy hemos ganado la práctica uno”, apuntó Díaz.

Alongside Díaz were coaches Ramón Santiago, Jorge Mejía, Hiram Bocachica, Eduardo Núñez, Guadalupe Jabalera and Hatuey Mendoza, among others.

List of players who participated in the first practice:

• Pitchers: Augusto Calderón, Randy Berigüete, Alex Martínez, Carlos Gómez, Iván Armstrong, Jasseel de la Cruz*, Rodolfo Martínez, Cristofer Gómez, Denyi Reyes, Víctor Payano*, Diógenes Almengó, José Cabrera, Gerlin Rosario, Luis Pérez*, Phillips Valdez.
• Catchers: Guillermo Rosario, Randy Florentino.
• Infielders: Héctor Salas, Jesús Báez, Francisco Urbáez.
• Outfielders: Sócrates Brito, Junior Lake, Franchy Cordero, Ricardo Céspedes, Carlos Jiménez, Jimmy Paredes.