With the end of the regular season, the Dominican Republic Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) has announced the awards for the 2020 winter ball season. The winners of the most valuable player, Pitcher of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year are selected by members of the Dominican sports press, based on the performance of the nominated players.
The leader of the year was the Colombian Luis “Pipe” Urueta, obtaining the distinction for the first time in his career within LIDOM with 81.3 percent of the votes. Urueta led Gigantes del Cibao to win the regular season, finishing first in the standings with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses. The Colombian sailed in complicated situations, such as an outbreak of COVID-19 and the inactivity of his team for more than 10 days as a consequence. From being last in the middle of the championship, he led his team with a historic lift to qualifying.
Jeremy Peña, shortstop for the Eastern Stars, was named debutant of the year with 76.3% of the vote. He finished as the leader in triples (2) and as co-leader in the games played (30) in the league for the 2020 season. He had 129 appearances on the set, of which 121 officially became bats. He had 37 hits (three of them at home) for an average of .306 beats, adding a .349 base percentage (OBP) and a .430 slugging percentage (SLG), good for a .779 OPS. He drove in eight rounds and scored 18 times. He stole six bases in six tries, hit 23 times and negotiated seven transfers.
David Kubiak, the owner of Escogido’s Lions, was selected as Pitcher of the Year of the 2020 season. The American culminated as a leader in strikeouts (32), ERA (1.74) and starts (seven) for LIDOM. He worked 36.1 innings in which he allowed ten runs, seven of which he won. His average walks and throws (WHIP) remained one of the best of the year at 0.83, and his independent pitching defensive status (FIP) was 3.41. He won a match and was undefeated. He won the award with 41.9% of the vote.
With 48.1 percent of the vote, LIDOM’s 2020 MOMP award goes to Gigantes del Cibao’s first base player, Ronald Guzmán, who was by far the best player of the season. In what was the best year of his career in Dominican baseball, Guzman finished leading in high runs (25), hits (40), total bases (58), OBP (.454), OPS (.977 ), set appearances (130) and as a co-leader in the games played (30).
His batting average was .360, thanks to 40 hits in 111 official bats and his SLG of .523. He drove in 12 races, hit 23 times and took 17 walks.