Tigres del Licey lead the 2026 LIDOM Rookie Draft with the selection of Hayden Álvarez
The Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) held a new edition of its Rookie Draft, marking the beginning of the path for the future stars of winter baseball. In a day filled with expectations, the six teams that make up the professional circuit secured their first selections, with outfielder Hayden Álvarez stealing the spotlight by being chosen in the first overall position by the Tigres del Licey.
Álvarez, who belongs to the Los Angeles Angels organization in Major League Baseball, is shaping up to be a key piece for the blue team in the coming seasons. The first round of the draft made clear the franchises’ commitment to strengthening their rosters with high-level young talent.
2026 Draft first round results
Following the selection of Álvarez, the rest of the teams completed their initial turn by integrating prospects who are already standing out in the MLB minor league systems. The selection order was defined as follows:
- Tigres del Licey: Hayden Álvarez (OF – Los Angeles Angels)
- Estrellas Orientales: Ronny Cruz (Washington Nationals)
- Leones del Escogido: Elián Peña (New York Mets)
- Gigantes del Cibao: Dauri Fernández (Cleveland Guardians)
- Toros del Este: Yairo Padilla (St. Louis Cardinals)
- Águilas Cibaeñas: Luis Reyson De la Cruz (Cleveland Guardians)
The arrival of these new prospects to Dominican winter baseball injects renewed energy into LIDOM, allowing fans to closely follow the development of players who could soon shine in stadiums across the country.
Alofoke Deportes
With this draft, the league’s teams continue their restructuring and strengthening process, seeking a balance between the veteran experience and the youth needed to compete for the Dominican professional tournament crown.
