The Gigantes de Rivas (English: Rivas Giants) are a professional baseball team based in Rivas, Nicaragua. They compete in the Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (LBPN). The team plays at the Estadio Yamil Ríos Ugarte. Established in 2013, the club has won the LBPN title four times in 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2024. The Gigantes also won the 2016 Latin American Series, becoming the first Nicaraguan team to win the Latin American Series.
| Gigantes de Rivas | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Information | |||||
| League | Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League | ||||
| Location | Rivas, Nicaragua | ||||
| Ballpark | Estadio Yamil Ríos Ugarte | ||||
| Established | 2013 | ||||
| League championships | 4 (2013–14, 2015–16, 2020–21, 2023–24) | ||||
| Latin American Series championships | 2016 | ||||
| Colors | Blue and orange | ||||
| Manager | Germán Mesa | ||||
| Uniforms | |||||
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History
editThe Gigantes de Rivas were established in 2013, ahead of the 2013–14 Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League season. The team's first roster included players such as Randall Simon, managed by Dominican Manny Collado.[1] The Gigantes won their first LBPN championship on their maiden season, defeating Indios del Bóer in the final series and participated in the 2014 Latin American Series representing Nicaragua, where they finished fourth with a 1–2 record.[2][3]
Rivas won the Nicaraguan championship again in the 2015–16 season, this time under manager Germán Mesa. Gigantes defeated Oriental de Granada in the final series to claim their second LBPN title.[4] The team represented Nicaragua in the 2016 Latin American Series, where they were crowned champions defeating Caimanes de Barranquilla in the final game, becoming the first Nicaraguan team to win the Latin American Series.[5]
The team won its third championship in the 2020–21 season under Puerto Rican manager Joel Fuentes. The Gigantes defeated Tigres de Chinandega in the final series.[6]
Gigantes de Rivas claimed its fourth national championship in the 2023–24 season, defeating Tren del Norte 4 games to 2 in the final series. Gigantes outfielder Francisco Peguero was awarded as the Most Valuable Player of the championship series.[7] Germán Mesa repeated as manager, winning his second title with the club and third LBPN championship (the other one was in the 2012–13 season with Tigres de Chinandega).[8]
The club was expected to represent Nicaragua in the nation's debut in the 2024 Caribbean Series. However, Nicaragua did not send the entire Gigantes squad; instead, a squad comprising the best Nicaraguan players will represent Nicaragua in the tournament.[9][10] Nevertheless, various media sources, as well as official CPBC and MLB press releases, continued to refer to the Nicaraguan team as Gigantes.[11][12][13][14] The Nicaraguan team, managed by Marvin Benard, finished the tournament in last place with a 0–6 record, being eliminated in the first round.[15]
Roster
edit| Gigantes de Rivas roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||
Pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
Roster updated on 29 January 2024
| ||
Championships
edit| Season | Manager | Opponent | Series score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Manny Collado | Indios del Bóer | 4–2 | |
| 2015–16 | Germán Mesa | Oriental de Granada | 4–3 | |
| 2020–21 | Joel Fuentes | Tigres de Chinandega | 4–2 | |
| 2023–24 | Germán Mesa | Tren del Norte | 4–2 | |
| Total championships | 4 | |||
Latin American Series record
edit| Year | Venue | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |  Managua |
1st | 3 | 1 | .750 |  Germán Mesa
|
| Total | 3 | 1 | .750 | |||
Caribbean Series record
edit| Year | Venue | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  Miami |
7th | 0 | 6 | .000 | Marvin Benard
|
| Total | 0 | 6 | .000 | |||
References
edit- ^ Hernández, Gerald (24 October 2013). "¿Gigantes de verdad?". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Hernández, Gerald (21 January 2014). "Los Gigantes arrebatan y se coronan". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Nicaragua vence a Colombia". serielatinoamericana.com (in Spanish). 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Hernández, Gerald (20 January 2016). "Gigantes de Rivas campeones de la Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Nicaragua". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Sarmiento, Miguel (2 February 2016). "Gigantes de Rivas de Nicaragua ganan la Serie Latinoamericana". Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Zúñiga H., Roberto (19 January 2021). "Gigantes de Rivas, Campeones de la Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Nicaragua". el19digital.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Rivas Gigantes win XIX Nicaragua Professional Baseball National League". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Gigantes de Rivas se coronan Campeones de la Liga Profesional". Viva Nicaragua Canal 13 (in Spanish). 16 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Gigantes de Rivas representará a Nicaragua en la Serie del Caribe 2024". Séptima Entrada (in Spanish). 17 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Palacin, Jeferson (17 January 2024). "Gigantes de Rivas "no" representará a Nicaragua en la Serie del Caribe 2024". Meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Criollos de Caguas derrotan a los debutantes Gigantes de Rivas". LIDOM.com (in Spanish). Prensa CPBC. 1 February 2024.
- ^ Capote Fernández, Harold (31 January 2024). "Serie del Caribe: ¡A luchar! Vea aquí el róster de Gigantes de Rivas para representar a Nicaragua" (in Spanish). Meridiano.
- ^ "How to watch 2024 Caribbean Series on ESPN and ESPN Deportes". ESPN. 30 January 2024.
- ^ Venn, David (31 January 2024). "Caribbean Series preview: Big names hit Miami for historic tournament". MLB.com.
- ^ Oliveros, Reinaldo (5 February 2024). "Nicaragua eliminada de la Serie del Caribe: Las razones del fracaso de Gigantes de Rivas". Meridiano.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 February 2024.