Águilas defeated Magallanes in extra innings with back-to-back home runs by Jackson Chourio and José Pirela

José Ángel Rodríguez S. l LVBP Press

January 2, 2026

Valencia.- Águilas del Zulia, the team with the fewest home runs in the elimination round, relied on a back-to-back performance from major leaguers Jackson Chourio and José Pirela to overcome in 10 innings4-3Navegantes del Magallanes, at the start of the Round Robin.

Superstar Chourio, in hisfirst postseason game in the LVBPHe went 5-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and one RBI, the result of the first of the consecutive solo home runs that the western team hit against Junior Guerra, in the tenth inning, after two outs.

“This is a dream come true for me,” the outfielder told LVBP.com after the game, having finished signing some baseballs for the Águilas fans who gathered at José Bernardo Pérez Stadium in Valencia. “I consider myself a lucky person because everywhere I go, I’m received with the greatest affection. What better way to repay them than by hitting the ball?”

The 21-year-old from Maracaibo became the youngest player in Major League history in 2025 with multiple seasons of at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He demonstrated his superiority by launching a home run on the first pitch of his at-bat against Guerra, with two outs, to break the 2-2 tie.

“I just wanted to make good contact,” Jackson Chourio said. “Luckily, it was a home run.”

After the home run by the Milwaukee Brewers star, came the historic José Pirela, who on a 1-2 count launched the ball to left field, bringing his career playoff home runs total to eight with the Eagles, tying Carlos “Cañón” Quintana for second place in the franchise and also scoring the winning run.

[ Brother Jaison was 0-5. Jaison batter 2nd in the lineup while Jackson batted 3rd ]

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JACKSON CHOURIO has officially finished his stint with the Águilas del Zulia (Venezuela Eagles) in the Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP) for the current 2025-2026 season and has traveled back to the United States.

His departure was planned as per an agreement with his MLB team, the Milwaukee Brewers, who wanted him to wrap up his winter ball participation before the end of the LVBP postseason. Chourio departed Venezuela on January 6, 2026, traveling via Curaçao to the U.S. amid some political uncertainty and travel concerns in the region.

During his time with the Aguilas this winter, Chourio played in eight games, batting .400 with a home run and five RBIs. His performance was a major boost for the team during their playoff push. He is expected to prepare for the upcoming 2026 MLB season with the Brewers.

AÑO JJ VB CA H 2B 3B HR CI TB BB K BR SAC SF AVE PEB SLG OPS GP AL
2025 7 30 10 12 2 0 1 5 17 4 4 1 0 0 .400 .486 .567 1.053 1 35

G 7, AB 30, R 10, H 12, 2B 2, 3B 0, HR 1, RBI 5, TB 17, BB 4, K 4, SB 1, SAC 0, SF 0, AVE 400, PEB 486, SLG 567, OPS 1.053

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Cleveland Guardians prospect JAISON CHOURIO has left the Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP) team Águilas del Zulia and is now training at the Guardians' development complex in Goodyear, Arizona.

The 20-year-old switch-hitting center field prospect had been playing for the Águilas (Eagles) during the offseason, along with his brother, Milwaukee Brewers star Jackson Chourio.

Jaison Chourio's departure follows that of his brother, Jackson, who also recently left the team to return to the United States as per an agreement with his MLB club and amid political uncertainty in Venezuela.

AÑO JJ VB CA H 2B 3B HR CI TB BB K BR SAC SF AVE PEB SLG OPS GP AL
2025 45 164 27 53 6 2 2 22 69 25 31 9 0 2 .323 .408 .421 .829 0 191

G 45, AB 164, R 27, H 53, 2B 6, 3B 2, HR 2, RBI 22, TB 69, BB 25, K 31, SB 9, SAC 0, SF 2, AVE 323, PEB 408, SLG 421, OPS 829

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[ Jaison Chourio had the best winter ball campaign that I can remember in recent history. In fact, I'd have to go all the way back to 2012-2015 and Jose Ramirez. From World Baseball Network and Cleveland.com, this four-year period covers his time with the Toros, noted for his development and impact in the league. During this time, he played for the Toros, contributing to his MLB readiness. I hope Jaison can follow along in Jose's footsteps. ]

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Johnathan Rodriguez carries the Most Valuable Player trophy in winter baseball

The Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League also announced the Manager of the Year award, which went to Andy González of the Ponce Lions.

January 9, 2026 - 11:40 AM

Carolina Giants outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez was elected Most Valuable Player of the 2025-26 season of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) , as announced Friday on social media by the organization itself.

[ Cleveland Guardians prospect Johnathan Rodríguez, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, earned the MVP award for the 2025-26 Puerto Rican Winter League (LBPRC), playing for the Gigantes de Carolina, adding to his 2024 International League MVP award from MiLB for his stellar Triple-A performance with the Columbus Clippers. ]

Rodríguez beat the other two finalists in the voting, outfielder Dalton Guthrie, of the Leones de Ponce, and third baseman Emmanuel Rivera of the Indios de Mayagüez.

Rodríguez helped the Giants qualify for the postseason by finishing third in the regular season, batting .265, placing him among the top 10 hitters in the tournament, in ninth position.

But Rodríguez, who belongs to the Cleveland Guardians in the Major Leagues, was the leader of the Puerto Rican winter league in runs batted in with 23. Nine of his 39 hits were extra-base hits, divided into seven doubles, one triple and one home run.

On the other hand, the manager of the Ponce Lions, Andy González, took the Manager of the Year award, surpassing in the voting Omar López, of the Santurce Crabbers, and Edwards Guzmán, of the Giants.

González led the Leones to the second seed, finishing with a 23-17 record, three games behind first-place Santurce. This was a significant improvement after his team's elimination last season, when the Leones went 18-22 and then lost a wild card game against Caguas.

The day before, on Thursday, the LBPRC announced the Pitcher of the Year and Reliever of the Year awards, which went to the imported Ashton Goudeau, of the Indios, and Andrew Marrero, of the Leones, respectively.

The first awards were announced on Wednesday, which went to Shed Long Jr., the Cangrejeros' reinforcement, as Import of the Year, and Eric Torres, of the Leones, as Rookie of the Year.

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[ I thought Rodriguez's home run totals were low (1). ]

Offseason Goals:

The current winter ball stint with the Gigantes de Carolina is a key opportunity for Rodríguez to refine his approach and demonstrate improved strike-zone recognition to translate his powerful minor league hitting to the MLB level.

While no specific public statements about his exact winter training regimen were found, the general consensus among scouts and team management is that improving his strikeout rate is crucial for his long-term success.

Jonathan Rodríguez recorded 39 walks and 16 strikeouts during the 2025-2026 Puerto Rico Winter League (LBPRC) season.

The stats show a remarkable improvement. Looks like J-Rod sacrificed some power for some plate discipline ]

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Sorry about that:

Jonathan Rodríguez recorded 39 walks and 16 strikeouts during the 2025-2026 Puerto Rico Winter League (LBPRC) season.
Jonathan Rodríguez recorded 16 walks and 39 strikeouts in 147 AB during the 2025-2026 Puerto Rico Winter League (LBPRC) season.

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Charros will face Tomateros again in the Final Series and will seek their second consecutive championship.

Mexicali, Baja California (Charros Press). – The Charros de Jalisco secured their place in the Final Series after defeating the Águilas de Mexicali by a close score of 3-2, winning the semifinal 4-1, and are seeking their second consecutive championship in a final against the Tomateros de Culiacán.

It was in the third inning that the visitors opened the scoring. Reynaldo Rodríguez reached home plate after Alejandro Osuna hit a line drive single to left field, putting the Charros up 1-0.

In the bottom of the third inning, Los Emplumados responded to tie the game. Alexis Wilson led off with a single to right field; Marco Jaime then singled to advance the runner. With the bases loaded after a walk to Cade Gotta, Alexis Wilson scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly, making it 1-1.

The Jalisco team regained the lead in the fourth inning on a difficult play with runners on the corners. Connor Hollis grounded out to first, where a throwing error by first baseman Yadir Drake allowed Mateo Gil to score from third, making it 2-1.

The Eagles tied the game again in the sixth inning. Wynton Bernard reached first base on a force out and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Alex Mejía, making the score 2-2.

The winning run came for the Charros in the eighth inning. Mateo Gil reached base with a single to left field, and later Tirso Ornelas hit an RBI double that drove in the winning run, sealing the final score of 3-2 and their place in the final.

In the title series, Jalisco will face the Tomateros de Culiacán again, in what will be the second consecutive final between the two and the fourth time they have faced each other to define the champion, consolidating this clash as the most repeated of the last decade in the ARCO League.

Tomateros sweep the semifinals and return to the Final Series

Guasave, Sinaloa (Tomateros Press Release). – The Tomateros de Culiacán are back in the Final Series, after defeating the Algodoneros de Guasave 8-0, sweeping the series and adding 7 consecutive victories in the Playoffs.

The visiting team mounted a four-run rally in the fifth inning to take the lead, as Luis Roberto Verdugo and Ildefonso Ruiz hit back-to-back singles, while Alí Solís advanced them with a bunt. Allen Córdoba struck out in the second out of the inning and Ramón Ríos received an intentional walk to load the bases, but Ethan Lindow walked Ichiro Cano and Joey Meneses, allowing Verdugo and Ruiz to score on bases-loaded bases, making it 2-0.

The pitcher then committed a balk, allowing Ríos to score the third run, while Orlando Martínez singled to right field to bring in Cano, making it 4-0. In the sixth, another four-run rally followed after Fernando Villegas reached on an error by Emmanuel Ávila. Luis Roberto Verdugo reached first safely when the pitcher tried to throw Villegas out at second but made a wild throw. Ildefonso Ruiz also bunted and reached first safely, as Francisco Peña tried to throw Villegas out at third but couldn't, loading the bases.

Tyler Jandron struck out Ali Solis, but Allen Cordoba hit a line drive to right field, but when Leonardo Heras attacked the ball, it got past him and went to the back of the park, allowing all the runners to round the infield and thus leaving the score 8-0.

n the bottom of the sixth, Guasave broke the shutout when Samar Leyva hit a double between right and center, and then came home on a single by Francisco Peña.

Ethan Lindow started for the home team, pitching five innings and allowing five hits, four walks, two strikeouts, and four runs, resulting in the loss. He received relief from Tyler Jandron, Román Méndez, Norman Elenes, and Rafael Córdova.

Luis Cessa took the mound for Culiacán and pitched five innings, allowing two hits, two walks, and striking out three, earning the win. He was relieved by Víctor González, Miguel Vázquez, Sasagi Sánchez, Clay Helvey, and Anthony Gose closed out the game.

With this, Tomateros secured their participation in the Jalisco 2026 Caribbean Series, as one of the two representatives that the ARCO League will have in the tournament that starts on February 1.

Culiacán will be looking for its 14th crown in the LAMP and its third in the Caribbean festival.

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Cleveland Guardians Offseason Prospect Report 1/7-14/26

Rodriguez, Genao struggle, Brito continues solid winter league campaign

Arthur Kinney and Matthew Kennell

Jan 18

Guardians Prospects:

Juan Brito (1B, Toros - Wednesday): 2-for-5, 3 R, HR, 2 RBIs, BB, 2 DPs - Brito slugged a homerun that was not without controversy after an unsuccessful Aguilas challenge on the play. Nonetheless, the two-run shot was part of his two-hit day where Brito scored on all three times he reached base.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Wednesday): 0-for-3, DP - Genao went down quietly, much like the entire Aguilas team in a blowout loss, with a pair of groundouts and a flyout.

Johnathan Rodriguez (LF, Carolina - Wednesday): 0-for-3, BB, GIDP - Rodriguez has now gone without a hit in three of the four games played in the postseason after an 0-for-3 outing on Wednesday. He struck out in the first, flew out in the fourth, drew a walk in the sixth and grounded into a double play in his only at-bat with a runner in scoring position.

Dayan Frias (SS, Cartagena - Wednesday): 2-for-5, R, 3 RBIs, SB, DP - Frias was retired in his at-bats in the first and second innings but scored a combined three runs on each of his two hits later in the game.

Juan Brito (1B, Toros - Thursday): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E - Brito followed up his spectacular Wednesday with…well…this.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Thursday): 0-3, 2 K - Genao’s postseason struggles continued on Thursday as he went hitless for the fourth tim in five games.

Johnathan Rodriguez (LF, Carolina - Thursday): 1-5, 1 K - Rodriguez reached base once as the Gigantes staved off elimination for another day.

Milan Tolentino (starting 2B, Hermosillo - Thursday): 0-2, 2 K - Tolentino struck out twice before being replaced in a loss that ended the Naranjeros’ season.

Dayan Frias (SS, Cartagena - Thursday): 1-5 - Just another productive, if not spectacular, game for Frias this winter.

Juan Brito (PH, Toros - Friday): 0-1, 1 K - Brito’s lone action of Friday’s contest was a pinch hit strikeout in the eighth.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Friday): 1-4, 1 RBI - Genao’s Friday RBI was his first of the Round Robin.

Johnathan Rodriguez (LF, Carolina - Friday): 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 1 Outfield Assist - Unlike Tolentino, Rodriguez was productive in his team’s elimination game.

Dayan Frias (SS, Cartagena - Friday): 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI - Frias’ first homer of the Colombian campaign led off the scoring in Friday’s slugfest on the penultimate day of the regular season.

Juan Brito (PH-DH, Toros - Saturday): 0-0, 1 BB - Brito was once again restricted to pinch hit duty, walking in his only plate appearance.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Saturday): 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 K - Genao had a hit and an RBI for the second straight day on Saturday as he appears to be shaking off the rust from not playing in December.

Dayan Frias (Cartagena - Saturday): 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB - Frias’ regular season wrapped up with this hitless effort.

Juan Brito (PH, Toros - Sunday): 0-for-0, BB - In a last-ditch effort for a come-from-behind victory, the Toros sent Brito to the plate as a pinch hitter. He drew a walk, but the following batter grounded into a game-ending double play.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Sunday): 3-for-5, R - Genao helped lead an offense with a three-hit day that led to nine runs in the win. I would describe his role in the contest as “keeping the train moving” as his hits did not come in “clutch” moments but forced the opponents to face one more batter in an inning or create even more precarious situations for the pitchers. Three other hitters surrounding Genao also had multiple hits in the game, and he came around to score once after he recorded a single in the first, fifth and seventh.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas - Tuesday): 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K - Genao reverted to his early-postseason form after a great weekend.

Dayan Frias (SS, Cartagena - Tuesday): 1-4 - Frias picked up a hit as the Tigres lost a Championship Series-opening contest in which all of the scoring occurred in the ninth inning.

Angel Genao (2B, Aguilas): 1-for-4, 3 DPs - Genao’s lone hit of the day was a single where he was thrown out trying to stretch for two, but the highlight of his evening was being a part of three double plays. Genao was 0-for-2 batting with runners in scoring position in the game, one of those at-bats a strikeout.

Dayan Frias (SS, Cartagena): 3-for-4, 2 R, BB. SB - Frias had a great day at the top of the Cartagena order by reaching base four times despite a loss. He started the game with a flyout, but singled to start the third, walked in the fifth, singled to begin the seventh and got on base in the ninth as the potential game-tying run with his third hit.

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Jaison Chourio remains firm in his goal of becoming champion alongside his brother Jackson

Gonzalo Rodríguez Crespo | LVBP Press

January 19, 2026

Caracas.- Jaison Chourio was away from the Águilas del Zulia for more than 15 days, but he never lost sight of his goal: to reach the highest honor in the LVBP and to do it alongside his brother Jackson.

“I’m going to talk to him because the goal is to win the championship,” the Zulia-born prospect confessed in an interview with analyst Coquito Santoro for Venevisión. However, that desire depends on the Milwaukee Brewers—the Major League Baseball organization to which Jackson belongs—authorizing his return to the Eagles for the postseason.

Jackson ChourioHe played in the last seven games of the regular season and the first game of the semifinals on January 2nd. “The whole family is super happy. My brother is the only one missing. That’s all, and I hope that happens soon,” said Jaison Chourio enthusiastically, who remains motivated to help the Westerners qualify for the Final Series.

“Manager Lipso Nava asked me to keep doing everything as I have been. I think I can contribute a lot on both offense and defense. The key is to help the team like I did in recent weeks,” the young man from Maracaibo said.






TESTS IN ARIZONA

Jaison Chourio traveled to the preseason headquarters of the Cleveland Guardians, his MLB organization, located in Arizona, to undergo physical evaluations after playing 45 games in the regular season and the first game of the Round Robin with Zulia.

“It hurt a lot to leave,” he admitted. “But they wanted to see me. They reviewed the work I did in the LVBP, the effort I put in at the gym, and the entire training plan I followed.”

During her stay in the hot southern state of the United States, she never lost faith in returning. “If something had gone wrong, I would have stayed there,” she explained.

After four years in the Guardians' system, Jaison Chourio will report to Minor League spring training. However, the possibility of receiving an invitation to the major league team remains. "They're happy with what they saw here, and maybe there will be a surprise," he hinted.





THE FACT

Jaison Chourio received a $1.2 million signing bonus from Cleveland, according to MLB Pipeline. It was the organization's largest investment in an international prospect in 2022. A switch-hitter, with more power as a left-handed hitter, he is known for his plate discipline: he rarely swings at pitches outside the strike zone. His speed is another of his key assets. In 186 minor league games, he has stolen 78 bases on 95 attempts, while in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), he stole nine bases without being caught.




Jaison Chourio crosses his fingers hoping to play with his brother Jackson again | Photo: Águilas del Zulia Press

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