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 →