Gigantes del Cibao

Baseball team in the Dominican Republic

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Gigantes del Cibao

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Team logo | Cap insignia
Information
League| Dominican Winter League
Location| San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Ballpark| Estadio Julian Javier
Founded| 1996
League championships| 2015, 2022
Manager| Wellington Cepeda
Current uniforms
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Home

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The Gigantes del Cibao (English: Cibao Giants) are a baseball team that plays in the Dominican Winter League. The team was founded in 1996 as Gigantes del Noroeste then with a change of ownership the name was changed several times, being called Pollos del Cibao, and Pollos Baseball Club.

## History

[edit]

Gigantes del Cibao Uniforms

At the start of the professional Dominican Republic baseball season in 1995, the League of Professional Baseball reported that for the 1996 season it planned to create another franchise to expand the league, to that date there were only five teams: Tigres del Licey, Aguilas Cibaeñas, Leones del Escogido, Estrellas Orientales and Toros del Este.

Thus, a group led by former baseball major league player Julián Javier,[1] who had arranged for the appointment or purchase of the franchise, accompanied by José Aníbal García, Ysócrates Peña, Abraham Abukarma who formed a committee, this committee met with Siquió NG de la Rosa getting the necessary partners to invest in the project.

The company was established as Nordeste Baseball Club, which has 34 founding members from the different provinces of the Cibao region. Among the members are: Carlos Eliseo Negrin, Celso Ventura, Miguel Angel Almanzar, Rafael Almanzar, José Adolfo Herrera and others.

In 1996, they were granted permission to operate and immediately began to put the old Estadio Julian Javier in conditions for baseball.

The first three years of operation of the team were in the hands of the Dominican Baseball League who held the guidance and advice of the steps to be followed for the proper functioning of the newly established team.

In 1999, due to a disastrous season in which the team broke the record for fewest games won, 9–51, controlling shareholders decided to relist the team and that is how it was handed to Julio Hazim, who immediately renamed the team as Pollos del Cibao, staying for two years as head of the administration team. It was in the first season of the new ownership when Hazim fixed part of the stands, stadium roof and drainage. That same year there was a new sale, this time to former big leaguer Stanley Javier, who decided to return to the previous name, but now it was no longer the Gigantes of nordeste (Giants of Northeast) but: Gigantes del Cibao.[2] From 2004 to 2012, the team was under the direction of the Genao family.[3] Since 2013, the team went on to be managed by the Rizek Family.[4][5]

## Estadio Julian Javier

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Estadio Julian Javier

The Estadio Julian Javier is the home of Gigantes del Cibao, located in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The stadium was built for the 1975 National Games, and has capacity for 12,000 people. The stadium is named in honor of former MLB Dominican baseball player Julian Javier.[1]

## Presidents

[edit]

The Gigantes have had several presidents from its founding to the present day:

* Siquio NG de la Rosa (Founding President)
* José Anibal Garcia
* Angel Miguel Almanzar
* Carlos Eliseo Negrin
* Julio Hazim
* Stanley Javier
* Alberto Genao
* Laurentino Genao
* Samir Rizek Sued

## Rivalries

[edit]

Manny Ramirez facing Kevin Pucetas in the Estadio Julian Javier.

* Aguilas Cibaeñas

The Gigantes have a great sporting rivalry with Aguilas Cibaeñas due to the proximity of the two cities. The two teams are in the same region and always has been the habit that the schedule for the opening match is always played between these two, just changing the venue each year.

The games between Gigantes and Aguilas are a great support among fans because the fervor is at his best.

* Tigres del Licey

Another great sporting rivalry is with the Tigres del Licey, this has developed because of the three finals that the team has participated, 2 were against the Tigres del Licey. In fact, the first lost game in the history of the Gigantes was against Licey.

Another factor is that in the final series of the 2008–09 season where these two had clashed scuffles between players, fans and even referees which ultimately led to the Gigantes play home games in the Estadio Quisqueya, home of the Tigres. Clashes between Gigantes and Tigres are always a lot of expectation in San Francisco de Macoris since the fans do their best to make the Tigres uncomfortable.

## Fans

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The Gigantes have the sixth largest number of fans in the league below Tigres del Licey, Águilas Cibaeñas, Leones del Escogido, Toros del Este and Estrellas Orientales. This is mainly because of how young the team is. Either way, it is one of the fastest growing markets in the league.

The team's fans are known to be very fervent fans and full of passion. In the Estadio Julian Javier there have always been marching bands, flags, horns, whistles and chants.

## Lifetime record

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Year | Record | finished

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1996–97 | 20–28 | Miss the Round Robin
1997–98 | 23–28 | Miss the Round Robin
1998–99 | 9–51 | Miss the Round Robin
1999–00 | 16–31 | Miss the Round Robin
2000–01 | 19–30 | Miss the Round Robin
2001–02 | 15–33 | Miss the Round Robin
2002–03 | 27–23 | Make the Round Robin
2003–04 | 26–24 | Make the Round Robin (Loss in the final)
2004–05 | 27–22 | Make the Round Robin
2005–06 | 17–33 | Miss the Round Robin
2006–07 | 31–19 | Make the Round Robin
2007–08 | 29–18 | Make the Round Robin
2008–09 | 31–19 | Make the Round Robin (Loss in the final)
2009–10 | 27–22 | Make the Round Robin (Loss in the final)
2010–11 | 25–24 | Make the Round Robin
2011–12 | 25–26 | Make the Round Robin
2012–13 | 22–29 | Miss the Round Robin
2013–14 | 22-28 | Make the Round Robin
2014–15 | 28–22 | Champions
2015–16  | 22–28  | Missed the Round Robin
2016–17  | 27–23  | Made the Round Robin
2017–18  | 29–21  | Made the Round Robin
2018–19  | 20–30  | Missed the Round Robin
2019–20  | 21–29  | Missed the Round Robin
2020–21  | 16–14  | Made the Round Robin (Loss in the final)
2021–22  | 22-17  | Champions

## Managers

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Arturo De Freites has managed the team in four different seasons, more than any other manager. Year | Manager | interim

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1996–97 | Julián Javier |
1997–98 | Osvaldo Virgil |
1998–99 | Alejandrito Taveras |
1999–00 | Alejandrito Taveras |
2000–01 | Miguel Diloné |
2001–02 | Miguel Diloné |
2002–03 | John Shoemaker |
2003–04 | Miguel Diloné |
2004–05 | Arturo De Freites[6] |
2005–06 | John Shoemaker | Arturo De Freites[6]
2006–07 | Arturo De Freites[6] |
2007–08 | Mike Rojas | Luis Natera
2008–09 | Luis Dorante |
2009–10 | Félix Fermín |
2010–11 | Félix Fermín[7] |
2011–12 | Arturo De Freites[6] | Héctor de la Cruz
2012–13 | Héctor de la Cruz | Bonny Castillo
2013–14 | Mako Oliveras[8] |
2014-15 | Audo Vicente |
2015-2016 | Luis Dorante[9] |

## Outstanding players

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In his short time the Gigantes have achieved quality players and presence in the major leagues.

Players like:

* Jose Reyes
* Albert Pujols
* Plácido Polanco
* Kendry Morales[10]
* Joel Peralta
* Nelson Cruz
* Román Colón
* Pedro Strop
* Ramón Santiago
* Erick Almonte[2]
* Alexi Casilla
* Wilson Valdez
* Wilson Betemit
* Marcell Ozuna
* Leury Garcia
* Brayan Peña
* Jean Segura
* Carlos Peguero
* John Halama
* Scott Spiezio
* Aquilino Lopez
* Darío Veras
* Juan Pérez
* Mark Trumbo
* Jimmy Paredes
* Antonio Bastardo
* Pedro Féliz
* Ty Wigginton

And many others.

## 2022 Caribbean Series Roster

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Dominican Republic 2022 Caribbean Series Roster

Players  | Coaches

Pitchers

*    Fernando Abad
*    Albert Abreú
*    Tyler Alexander
*    Lisalverto Bonilla
*    Huascar Brazobán
*    Luis Felipe Castillo
*    Frank Garcés
*    Reymín Guduán
*    Ryan Kussmaul
*    Jhan Mariñez
*    Yunesky Maya
*    Jenrry Mejía
*    Juan Minaya
*    Carlos Pimentel
*    Luis Santos
*    Raúl Valdés
*    Gabriel Ynoa

[1] updated on 27 January 2022

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Catchers

*    Carlos Paulino
*    Webster Rivas
*    Wilin Rosario

Infielders

*    Hanser Alberto
*    Robinson Canó
*    Edwin Espinal
*    Juan Francisco
*    Ronald Guzmán
*    Kelvin Gutiérrez
*    Gustavo Núñez
*    Richard Ureña
*    Henry Urrutia

Outfielders

*    Melky Mesa
*    Marcell Ozuna
*    José Siri
*    Moisés Sierra
*    Jordany Valdespin

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Manager

*    Luis Urueta

Coaches

## References

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1. ^ a b Society for American Baseball Research (2013). Drama and Pride in the Gateway City: The 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 115–116\. ISBN 978-0803246089. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
2. ^ a b "Cronología revela Gigantes han tenido brillantes campañas". eljaya.com. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
3. ^ "¿Por qué los Gigantes no han sido Campeones? (3ra parte)". eljaya.com. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
4. ^ "Favorecen Grupo Rizek adquiera los Gigantes Cibao". eljaya.com. May 3, 2013. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
5. ^ "Dirigentes deportivos afirman se escribiría nueva historia de los Gigantes en manos del Grupo Rizek". eljaya.com. May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
6. ^ a b c d "Arturo De Freites regresa como dirigente de los Gigantes del Cibao". eljaya.com. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
7. ^ "Félix Fermín vuelve a Gigantes del Cibao". eljaya.com. February 12, 2014. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
8. ^ "Gigantes remueven a Mako Oliveras; contratan nuevo dirigente". eljaya.com. December 6, 2013. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
9. ^ "Luis Dorante dirigirá a Cardenales de Lara para la temporada 2015-2016". el-carabobeno.com. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
10. ^ "Winter League Report: Kendry Morales". Los Angeles Times. November 17, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2015.

## External links

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* Official Page

* v
* t
* e

Dominican Professional Baseball League

Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Profesional (LIDOM)

Current teams|

* Águilas Cibaeñas (Santiago)
* Toros del Este (La Romana)
* Estrellas Orientales (San Pedro de Macorís)
* Gigantes del Cibao (San Francisco de Macorís)
* Leones del Escogido (Santo Domingo)
* Tigres del Licey (Santo Domingo)

Related|

* Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo
* 2024–25 season

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