The Indians are reinforced with 14 players for the Caribbean Series

The Indians of Mayaguez announced on Friday the inclusion of 14 reinforcing players to their cast for the Caribbean series to be played in Caracas, Venezuela, starting on February 2.

These 14 reinforcements will be combined with the 14 players available from the Indians’ roster to make up the final 28-name roster.

And the president of the Professional Baseball League Roberto Clemente, Juan Flores Galarza announced that they will bring 14 position players and 14 pitchers. The team will travel on Monday and train on Saturday and Sunday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

Edwin Díaz, shortstop for the Criollos de Caguas who won the Most Valuable Player award, heads the list for the Caribbean event. Also, there are infielders Vimael Machín (Criollos) and Gabriel Cancel (Giants), plus second baseman Jesmuel Valentín (Leones de Ponce).

In the outfield, the tribe included Bryan Torres (Carolina), while at catcher they added Brian Navarreto (Carolina) and Rubén Castro, tournament batting champion with RA12, who strengthened the Giants in the postseason.

In the pitching staff, they chose Luis Leroy Cruz, Alex Sanabia and Héctor Hernández (Santurce), Fernando Cabrera (Leones), José Espada (Giants), Ricardo Vélez (RA12) and Ricardo Gómez (Criollos).

Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera leads the group of the Indians who won the championship last Wednesday in a decisive seventh game against the Giants at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium.

He is followed by the siore Jeremy Rivera, MVP of the final, along with second baseman Brett Rodríguez, catcher Alan Marrero and outfielders Danny Ortiz, Roberto Enriquez and Anthony García.

The Indian rotation will again feature Americans Daryl Thompson, Ronnie Williams and Rob Whalen along with relievers Nelvin Fuentes, Braden Webb, Carlos Francisco and Danny Wirschansky.

Out of the squad for the Caribbean Series were brothers Richie and Josh Palacios, plus two-time Major League Baseball Gold Glove catcher Roberto “Bebo” Pérez. Also absent are outfielder Henry Ramos and pitcher Dereck Rodriguez.

Imports Chavez Young, Blaine Crim and Chavez Fernander were left out because they joined Mayagüez after December 15. By rule of the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation, reinforcements that report late to winter tournaments cannot be included in the rosters for the Caribbean Series.

Mayagüez won its first Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Lbprc) championship since the 2013-14 season in a fifth consecutive final under veteran manager Mako Oliveras, 76, who will make the trip to Venezuela.

Oliveras will have Edwards Guzmán, Manager of the Year with the Giants and rival of the Indians in the final, as bench coach.

The representation of Puerto Rico opens the competition of the Caribbean Series on February 2 against Colombia in La Guaira.