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Puebla snapped a 14-year playoff drought in 1982, finishing with the Mexican League’s record at 95-67 atop the South Division. Merida and Guadalajara were both 91-71 behind the, tying for the lone wild card spot. The Mean Green won the tiebreaker game to end a three-year playoff skid. Last year’s division champ Mexico City was a non-factor at 74 wins. Meanwhile, defending CABA champion Juarez and Hermosillo tied for the North Division at 89-73. The jesters prevailed in the tiebreaker game to keep their repeat hopes intact.

Merida’s Kenedy Ortiz became a four-time Mexican League MVP. The Gold Glove third baseman from Columbia was the elader in WAR (12.0), slugging (.606, OPS (1.006), wRC+ (219), runs (101), and RBI (116). Ortiz added 39 home runs and a .330 average. Puebla’s Junior Vergara won his fourth straight Pitcher of the Year. He led in strikeouts (365) and WAR (9.4) both for the fifth straight year. Vergara also had the best WHIP (0.73), K/BB (14.0), and FIP- (54), adding a 1.94 ERA and 17-9 record in 255.2 innings.

Juarez cruised to a first round sweep over Merida to earn back-to-back Mexican League Championship Series appearances, while Puebla hadn’t been there since 1953. The Pumas seemed primed to upend the defending champs by taking the first three games, but the Jesters rallied from down 3-0 to win the series in seven games. This gives Juarez its fifth ML pennant in nine years and their seventh league title overall.



Defending Caribbean League champion Santo Domingo improved upon their 1981 record, again taking the Island Division with a 102-60 record. Jamaica also improved their record, allowing them a third straight playoff berth with the wild card spot at 96-66. Over in the Continental Division, Guatemala earned a third consecutive division title. The Ghosts dropped from 106 wins to 90-72, but that was still enough to top Salvador by two games and both Honduras and Costa Rica by five.

Honduras DH Gabriel Pompa was the Caribbean League MVP and joined the legendary Kiko Velazquez as the only to win MVP and Rookie of the Year. Pompa was a late bloomer with his rookie year at age 26, but the right-handed Honduran led the league in home runs (56), RBI (127), total bases (395), slugging (.644), OPS (.988), and wRC+ (172). Guatemala’s Franklyn Maldonado won Pitcher of the Year with the 26-year old Honduran lefty leading in ERA (2.01), quality starts (30), FIP- (53), and WAR (10.9). He added 330 strikeouts and a 21-9 record in 272.2 innings.

Jamaica and Guatemala went the distance in the wild card round with the Jazz earning the road series win for their second Caribbean League Championship Series appearance in three years. Their division foe Santo Domingo would prove too tough as the Dolphins claimed it 4-2 for back-to-back titles. Santo Domingo now has 10 Caribbean League pennants, putting them second to Honduras’ 12.



The 72^nd Central American Baseball Association Championship was a rematch of the prior season and their third meeting in the finale. Santo Domingo swept Juarez in 1962, but the Jesters took the 1981 encounter 4-2. The 1982 edition also went six games, but this time ended with a Dolphins ring. LF Jop de Kok led the way for Santo Domingo, winning finals MVP and CLCS MVP. The 28-year old Aruban had 17 hits, 15 runs, 5 doubles, 7 home runs, and 13 RBI in 12 playoff starts. It is the fifth overall championship for the Dominican capital (1917, 1927, 1960, 1962, 1982).



Other notes: Santo Domingo’s Solomon Aragon became the sixth CABA batter to 3000 career hits. Alvaro Quintana became the 24^th to 500 home runs. 1B Rafioby Barajas won his 13^th Gold Glove.