Félix Neón Makes History: Will Debut in MLB this Weekend
Santo Domingo – Dominican umpire Félix Neón is about to make history in national baseball. This weekend, Neón will become the country’s most recent representative to debut in the Major Leagues. Its anticipated premiere will take place this Friday in Boston, during the match between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, at the iconic Fenway Park.The president of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League, Vitelio Mejía Ortiz, expressed his pride in this achievement, highlighting the importance of Neon for Dominican baseball. Neon is a product of the LIDOM training system, forged in the Baseball Umpire Development Academy (ADAB) and with experience in the Dominican Summer League. In 2019, he participated in an MLB camp in Myrtle Beach and, a year later, joined the Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Florida. Although his debut in minor leagues was scheduled for 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its start. In 2021, he finally began his professional career in Class A Short Season, progressing gradually thanks to his performance until reaching higher levels. Originally from Barahona and 29 years old, Neón has been part of the LIDOM arbitration team since 2018, establishing himself as one of the most outstanding talents in Dominican arbitration. With his debut, Neón joins Ramón Ferrer as the only Dominican umpires to reach the top of professional baseball.“Félix Neón is an example of discipline and perseverance. His arrival in the Major Leagues confirms the quality of umpire development in our country.”
Vitelio Mejía Ortiz, President of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League
