Leones set opening day roster for winter league season

Leones of Ponce shortstop Edwin Díaz

By THE STAR STAFF

The Leones of Ponce announced their official 30-man roster on Thursday for the start of the 2025-26 Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC by its initials in Spanish) season.

The Leones (Lions) will open the regular season with 15 pitchers and 15 position players, under the management of Andy González. The coaching staff also includes José “Tony” Valentín (bench coach), José “Hommy” Castro (third base coach), Rubén Gotay (first base coach), Javier Valentín (hitting coach), Giancarlo Alvarado (pitcher coach), John Lyn Pachot (bullpen coach), Alexis Díaz (analytics coach) and Hilo Yamamoto (interpreter).

Among the most prominent names are former major leaguers Jesmuel Valentín and Ozzie Martínez, as well as Edwin Díaz, Sammy Hernández, Chris Arroyo, Yeniel Laboy and Juan Montero, all active in the minor leagues.

The pitching staff features Andrew Marrero (St. Louis Cardinals) and Lenny Torres (Cincinnati Reds), in addition to Bryant Salgado and Gabriel Rodríguez, both of whom have been called up to the Puerto Rican national team for the upcoming Copa América.

The imported players completing the roster are infielders Dalton Guthrie and Anthony Calarco, outfielder D’Shawn Knowles, and pitchers Franny Cobos and Kazuto Taguchi.

The Leones will open their season Friday night (Nov. 7) at home against the Indios (Indians) of Mayagüez at Francisco “Paquito” Montaner Stadium. The game will begin at 7:21 p.m., and will be preceded by a special concert by Sonora Ponceña, celebrating their 70-year career, starting at 5:30 p.m.