MATANZAS, CUBA – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Forget chestnuts roasting on an open fire! In the coastal city of Matanzas, Cuba, the only things roasting were baseballs. On a glorious 81-degree afternoon, the historic Estadio Victoria de Girón overflowed with a capacity crowd of 22,000 enthusiastic fans. They weren’t there for a traditional holiday feast; they were there for the power-hitting spectacle of the 2025 Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.

The atmosphere was electric—a unique blend of passionate local Cuban fans and a festive contingent of MWBL supporters who made the trip south to escape the winter chill. As palm trees swayed beyond the outfield walls, twelve of the league’s most feared sluggers stepped onto the diamond to put on a show for the ages.

The Format: ‘Jingle Balls’ and Holiday Power

In keeping with MWBL tradition, the event adhered to the strict “one-representative-per-franchise” rule established in 2017. Twelve elite power hitters—six from the American League and six from the National League—competed in a bracket-style format. Each slugger looked to launch “Jingle Balls” into the Matanzas skyline, trading their traditional team colors for festive, holiday-themed jerseys. Continue reading →

MATANZAS, CUBA – The Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) is bringing the holiday cheer—and massive power—to the Caribbean! The league today unveiled the twelve elite sluggers who will compete in the 2025 Christmas Classic Home Run Derby, set to take place on Christmas Day, December 25th, at the historic Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas, Cuba.

Twelve Days of Sluggers: The Christmas Classic Field

In the spirit of the event, the MWBL has selected twelve representatives from the American and National Leagues who demonstrated exceptional power during the 2025 season. Notably, the field adheres strictly to the MWBL rule established in 2017:

No single franchise will have more than one representative competing for the festive crown.

Here are the 12 sluggers ready to launch ‘Jingle Balls’ out of the park:

AMERICAN LEAGUE – 2025 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Judge	Shohei Ohtani	Cal Raleigh	Eugenio Suarez	Kyle Schwarber	Anthony Santander
Hollywood	Fremont	Cincinnati	Titusville	Detroit	Coconut Creek

NATIONAL LEAGUE – 2025 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS
Brent Rooker	Jose Ramirez	Jake Burger	Juan Soto	Giancarlo Stanton	Pete Alonso
Sacramento	Tempe	Bethesda	Tampa Bay	Prairie	Selkirk

A Unique MWBL Holiday Tradition

The MWBL’s Christmas Classic is not just a game—it’s a beloved winter tradition with a unique backstory. Continue reading →

Matanzas Cuba – 12/25/2024

Forget chestnuts roasting on an open fire! On a glorious 78-degree day in Matanzas, Cuba, the only thing roasting was baseballs as the Estadio Victoria de Giron Stadium overflowed with enthusiastic fans for the 2024 Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.

Ten sluggers, five representing the American League and five from the National League, stepped onto the diamond to put on a show for the ages. The crowd, a mix of passionate Cuban baseball fans and festive MWBL supporters who made the trip south, were treated to a power display that would make Santa himself ditch the sleigh for a bat.

LISTEN TO THE MWBL DEEP DIVE ON THE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

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Matanzas Cuba – 12/25/2023

Despite some spotty pop-up thunderstorms, the Mid-West Baseball League held its 20th Annual Christmas Classic again this year on a semi-wet and cold evening in Matanzas Cuba tonight.   A 72-degree day turned a little cooler with the winds blowing in at 7 MPH, which was not the perfect setting for the Mid-West Baseball League annual event.  Street vendors were out in droves selling hats, T-shirts, sunglasses, and anything they could make a buck on from Americans & other foreign tourists. Twelve MWBL players & families came together with masks on for a jolly old time of fun, very little sun, but yet plenty of Home Runs.

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The 2023 Christmas Classic will be held on Christmas night – December 25th, 2023 (results posted on 12/26/23 @ or about Noon ET) in Matanzas, Cuba in the Stadium – Victoria de Girón.

How does the MWBL handle the Christmas Classic Home Run Derby?  This is an idea that came from a league (BUNT), that the Commissioner checks out from time to time.  Dave Snyderman one of the members produced the idea a few years ago and it has been refined somewhat as they went along.  The MWBL refined the idea a little more and adopted the concept for the Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.

Representing the American & National League teams they finished 2023 with, will be the following twelve (12), players.
Since 2017 – No Mid-West Baseball League Franchise will have more than one representative.
All representatives will be for the team they finished the 2023 MWBL Season with.

AMERICAN LEAGUE – 2023 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Judge	Kyle Schwarber	Cal Raleigh	Yordan Alvarez	Nick Plummer	Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Hollywood	Detroit	Cincinnati	Chicago	Southbend	Fremont

NATIONAL LEAGUE – 2023 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS
Austin Riley	Mookie Betts	Gleyber Torres	Matt Olson	Nolan Arenado	Freddie Freeman
Valdosta	Selkirk	Long Beach	Baltimore	Harsens Island	Tempe