The Caribbean Series begins on February 1st, as the winners of the four major winter leagues (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela) face off for supremacy. Escogido will be representing the DR, Obregon will be representing Mexico, Caguas will be representing Puerto Rico, and Lara will be representing Venezuela.

Four current KC Royals (and minor leaguers) were a part of getting their winter league team to the Caribbean Series.

Starter Luis Mendoza (who will be pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic) made one start in the Mexican Pacific League finals. It came in Game 1 and he picked up the win. Mendoza allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out 11 and threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes. He allowed a solo homerun to former Royal Yuniesky Betancourt in front of over 17,000 fans.

Outfielder Paulo Orlando is also getting geared up for the WBC, but he will be playing for upstart Brazil. He helped Lara win the Venezuelan Winter League title. Orlando played centerfield, batted second, and hit .307 in the postseason (5-for-23 in the finals with seven strikeouts).

Jose Jimenez is Orlando’s teammate with Lara. In their first game, he pitched a perfect 1/3 of an inning. He picked up a hold the next day with 1/3 of an inning. Jimenez pitched another 1/3 of an inning in their Game Four loss.

The Puerto Rican League finals was a battle between Mayaguez and Caguas and a battle between Royals utility fielders Irving Falu and Rey Navarro. Navarro hit just .184 (5-for-26 in the finals) for champion Caguas while playing second base and batting second. Falu hit .229 (6-for-27 in the finals) while playing second base and batting leadoff for Mayaguez.

For more on the Caribbean Series, click HERE.

*The answer to Tuesday’s trivia answer is: SEVEN. The inductees were Whitey Herzog (1975-1979), George Brett (1973-1993), Orlando Cepeda (1974), Joe Gordon, (1969), Harmon Killebrew (1075), Bob Lemon (1970-1972), and Gaylord Perry (1983).