The 2025 World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers is more than a battle for a championship — it’s a reflection of baseball’s transformation. With over ten Latin American players taking part, the Fall Classic has become the loudest expression yet of the sport’s hemispheric identity.
The MLB reported 265 foreign-born players this season, with 100 Dominicans leading the count. Venezuelans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans round out a mosaic that mirrors the Americas themselves.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Dominican Heritage and Power
At center stage stands Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Dominican powerhouse and ALCS MVP after a stunning .385 average with three homers against Seattle. His rise has elevated Toronto back to the World Series after 32 years, while adding another chapter to the Guerrero family legacy — father and son now join the rare list of Dominican duos to reach the Fall Classic.
With his historic $500 million contract, Guerrero Jr. embodies a new generation of Latin stars who command both the diamond and the market. To millions across Latin America, he’s not just an athlete but proof of what persistence and heritage can achieve.
Dodgers’ Caribbean Core
The Dodgers’ roster may orbit around Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, but its emotional heartbeat comes from the Caribbean. Teoscar Hernández (Dominican Republic), Kike Hernández (Puerto Rico), Miguel Rojas (Venezuela), and Andy Pagés (Cuba) form a quartet that balances power, leadership, and flair.
Teoscar has been electric in key moments, Kike remains the soul of the clubhouse, and Rojas continues to set the defensive tone. Yet, the breakout story of this postseason — and perhaps of the entire year — is Andy Pagés.
At just 24, Pagés has become a revelation for the Dodgers and for Cuba. Born in Pinar del Río, he left the island as a teenager and climbed patiently through the minors before debuting in 2024.
Alongside Toronto’s Yariel Rodríguez, he has restored Cuba’s name to the stage of the World Series, something that hadn’t happened since the golden years of Aroldis Chapman and Yulieski Gurriel.
Toronto’s Latin Backbone
The Blue Jays’ rise has also been powered by Latin talent. Beyond Guerrero Jr., they boast Alejandro Kirk (Mexico), Andrés Giménez (Venezuela), and Yariel Rodríguez (Cuba). Together they form a balanced mix of power, precision, and cultural pride.
Kirk’s baseball IQ behind the plate has been crucial. Giménez’s agility and consistency anchor the infield. Berríos has provided leadership on the mound, while Rodríguez — with his electric arm — represents the hunger of Cuba’s new generation of big leaguers.
A World Series Without Borders
More than any in recent memory, this World Series captures the globalization of baseball. The Dodgers embody dominance and resources; the Blue Jays, ambition and renewal. Between them, the Latin contingent adds color, rhythm, and identity.
In the stands, flags from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba wave beside those of Canada and the United States. It’s the most multicultural baseball celebration of the 21st century.
Legacy Beyond the Score
No matter who wins, the 2025 World Series will stand as a milestone for Latin America in Major League Baseball. From the Caribbean to the Pacific, from Havana to Toronto, this Fall Classic reminds us that the pulse of baseball — its energy, rhythm, and future — now beats in Spanish.
