We’re roughly a month away from 2026 Spring Training. Meaning, the winter ball seasons are beginning to wind down. LIDOM rosters featured a nice collection of current and former Major Leaguers, from players like Geraldo Perdomo and Hunter Bigge to older names like Emilio Bonifacio, Radhames Liz, and Robinson Cano. Here’s an abridged version of the 2025-26 season.

Bounceback campaigns for ex-MLBers…or not

There are many former Major Leaguers who were on the LIDOM rosters, or are still playing. And some of those individuals didn’t do too well.

We’ll start with Jeimer Candelario, the 32-year-old who played for Toros del Este. Candelario finished the regular season with a .188/.269/.333 slash line for 40 strikeouts in 32 games, third-most in the circuit behind Franchy Cordero and Mel Rojas Jr. (source)

Not exactly numbers one would want to see from a player who had success at the MLB level not too long ago. However, keep in mind that Candelario didn’t exactly hit well in Triple-A once the Yankees acquired him. He hit just .203 (.646 OPS) across 61 games with Scranton of the International League after he signed with New York on a Minor League deal.

Alexander Canario bounced around last year, spending most of 2025 with the Pirates after a brief spring stay with the Mets. He didn’t hit particularly well and swung and missed a lot, though, with Pittsburgh before he was DFA’d in November.

It was more of the same in the Dominican Winter League. Canario batted .186 (.666 OPS), and while he hit four home runs, he didn’t get much more than that. He picked up 13 hits in total over 29 games.

Jose Siri batted .167 with five strikeouts over five games.

As for the pitchers, ex-Guardian Triston McKenzie pitched for Aguilas after Cleveland cut him loose in 2025. Walks were a problem for McKenzie in pro ball, and that was indeed the case in 2025-26 down in LIDOM. McKenzie walked 12 over 11.2 IP.

What about the prospects?

Jordan Lawlar has a big year ahead of him with the Diamondbacks. Lawlar hit very well in Triple-A this past season, and followed that up with a good 44 PA sample with Arizona.

However, Lawlar, who played for Licey, struck out 18 times over 11 games and had two extra-base hits (both doubles).

Twins prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez did better, as he slashed .292/.417/.646 (1.063 OPS) with four home runs and eight extra-base hits across 17 games.

Royals catcher Carter Jensen had a blistering September with the big club. However, he cooled in LIDOM, as he struck out 12 times over a nine-game sample. Jensen walked seven times.

LIDOM also proved to be a place for former prospects to get sorely-needed playing time. Among those who received time were Adael Amador (Rockies) and Ronny Mauricio (Mets).

Amador logged 499 plate appearances between Triple-A and Colorado last season, with most of those coming from the Isotopes. While he only hit .182, Amador walked 16 times in 24 games.

Mauricio, meanwhile, only picked up 184 plate appearances in 2025. Once a very notable prospect in the Mets’ system, the organization chose not to demote him — a move that would’ve taken up his last option year — and instead used him as a backup utilityman.

He made up for that in LIDOM, as he received 13 games of work in winter ball. Mauricio slashed .212/.276/.365 with two home runs and four extra-base hits.

Pitchers

LIDOM was filled with former Major Leaguers, including ex-Blue Jay Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez had a great statistical season, as he posted a 1.55 ERA for the Toros. However, little in the way of strikeouts (34 over 46.1 IP.

Aside from Sanchez, former Rays pitchers Enny Romero & Jake Faria, Albert Abreu, Stephen Nogosek, and Shane Greene are among the notables who logged a significant amount of innings.

In Greene’s case, he worked as a starter in LIDOM, notable given that he was a reliever in the Majors. The ex-Tiger struck out 21 and walked 14 over 27 innings.

Do all these numbers mean anything?

In the grand scheme of things, not really.

Last year, Noelvi Marte played down in the Dominican Winter League and had a terrible run there. He also struggled in 2025 Spring Training. However, he found his groove this past year and turned into a solid regular for the Reds.

Aside from players being able to play in their home country, it also serves as a place to A) get extra reps in before the 2026 season, when the stats do matter, and B) work on things.

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