Spanish
SANTO DOMINGO. The national and Caribbean champions, Leones del Escogido, announced the hiring of right-handed relief pitchers Efraín Contreras and Derek West, who will immediately join the active roster of the scarlet team, reported the team's general manager, Carlos Peña.
Contreras, a 26-year-old Mexican right-hander, comes from playing in the Mexican Pacific League with the Yaquis de Obregón, where he recorded a 2-1 record, a 2.40 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 30 innings, leading the circuit with 15 saves.
His professional career includes experience in the Minor Leagues of the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies between 2018 and 2024, as well as his participation in the champion teams of the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican Baseball League during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
"Contreras brings youth, energy, and projection to our organization. We trust in his talent and his willingness to seize this opportunity and contribute to the team at this key moment in the championship," said Peña.
For his part, West, a 28-year-old American pitcher, comes from the Indios de Mayagüez of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League of Puerto Rico, where he left a record of 1-1, an ERA of 2.19, a WHIP of 0.97 and 32 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.
The right-hander also played in the Houston Astros' Minor Leagues from 2019 to 2023 and has pitched in the Mexican summer league since 2024. In Puerto Rico, he was part of the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the 2022-23 season, with an ERA of 1.02, 21 strikeouts in 17.2 innings and a WHIP of 0.73, and in the 2024-25 campaign he wore the uniform of the Navegantes del Magallanes in Venezuela. "West strengthens our pitching staff at this decisive stage. He is an arm with the ability to compete immediately, provide depth, and assume important responsibilities in high-pressure games," added the capital manager. Contreras and West will occupy the positions left by relievers Patrick Weigel and Patrick Halligan. Weigel will be absent from the team due to the birth of his son in the United States, while Halligan signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox. The Lions (10-4) will seek this Tuesday to seal their pass to the grand final of the 2025-26 LIDOM championship when they face the Gigantes del Cibao at 7:00 p.m. at the Julián Javier stadium in San Francisco de Macorís.
