Jesús Madé Hits Home Run in Professional Dominican Baseball Debut
Rookie shortstop Jesús Madé hit a home run in his very first career at-bat in the Dominican Professional Baseball League during the opening night of the 2026–2027 season. The 19-year-old infielder plays for the Tigres del Licey, the winningest franchise in the league with 24 titles, and connected off American right-hander Jeremy Rhoades of the Leones del Escogido at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo.
Madé is rated as the top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, coming off a major league season where the Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–0 to reach their second World Series.
Early Offense and Lead Changes at Estadio Quisqueya
The Tigres del Licey quickly lost their initial lead in the bottom of the first inning when Erik González hit a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an infield single by outfielder Junior Lake. The Licey offense recovered by tagging Rhoades for two runs in the second inning and three more in the bottom of the third.
Fellow Licey rookie Kevin Alcántara also made an immediate impact in his debut. The center fielder started his night with a first-inning double and added a third-inning single that forced Rhoades out of the game.
Opening Ceremonies in San Francisco de Macorís
While the action unfolded in Santo Domingo, the official inauguration ceremony of the tournament took place at Estadio Julián Javier in San Francisco de Macorís, home of the Águilas Cibaeñas and the host Gigantes del Cibao. Dominican Professional Baseball League Vitelio Mejía led the opening program alongside Administrative Minister of the Presidency Andrés Bautista.
League officials dedicated the season posthumously to Héctor Rizek, a cocoa exporter who acquired the almost totality of the shares of the Gigantes now operated by his descendants. The ballpark itself honors Julián Javier, the former St. Louis Cardinals second baseman who won World Series titles in 1964 against the New York Yankees and 1967 against the Boston Red Sox.
Saturday Schedule and League Standings
Opening day action also featured a matchup between the Estrellas Orientales and the Toros del Este in La Romana. The 50-game regular season continues on Saturday with three matchups across the country:
- Gigantes del Cibao visiting the Tigres del Licey in Santo Domingo
- Toros del Este facing the Águilas Cibaeñas in Santiago
- Leones del Escogido playing the Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macorís
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