SANTO DOMINGO.- The Baseball Operations management of the Leones del Escogido, the national two-time champion team, has confirmed the continuity of two key players for the upcoming season: right-handed reliever Héctor Neris and outfielder Jimmy Paredes.
Neris, 36 years old, was a fundamental element in obtaining the number 18 crown for the “melenudos” in the 2025-26 campaign. His performance on the mound was notable, accumulating 14.0 innings in total, with 12 of them in the postseason, and recording an ERA of 0.64, a WHIP of 1.07, and 13 strikeouts. In the playoffs, the opposition barely hit .135 against him.
The pitcher, originally from Villa Altagracia and with a 12-year career in the Major Leagues, has a total of 114.2 innings pitched in his career in Dominican winter baseball, with an earned run average of 2.55, a WHIP of 1.21, and 98 strikeouts.
For his part, Paredes, 37 years old, had an outstanding participation in the 2026 Caribbean Series in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he averaged .500 in the preliminary round, including a home run and a run batted in.
The scarlet captain, a native of Santo Domingo, completed his eleventh season with the Lions and his sixteenth in the Dominican Baseball League (Lidom). For his career in regular series, Paredes has a batting average of .236, with 120 RBIs, 113 runs scored, 12 home runs and 42 doubles in 319 games.
With the renewal of Neris and Paredes, the Leones del Escogido ensure the continuity of a solid base of players, joining outfielders Junior Lake, Sócrates Brito and José Marmolejos, shortstop Erik González and reliever Alexander Colomé, who have also renewed with the club.
Each of the players mentioned will be available for the mutual option season, granting the Lions the right of reservation for the 2027-28 tournament.
