Overview
Venezuela's winter league — eight clubs, October to January, and a berth in the Caribbean Series.
The Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is Venezuela's professional winter league. Eight clubs play from October to December, with a round-robin and final deciding the champion in January; the winner represents Venezuela at the Caribbean Series.
The league is a significant off-season destination for major- and minor-league players, and Venezuela's own output of major leaguers — Luis Aparicio, Miguel Cabrera, Ronald Acuña Jr., José Altuve — is second only to the Dominican Republic among countries outside the United States.
Season Format
Recent Champions
Most recent first. Seasons still in progress are marked.
History
Professional baseball in Venezuela dates to 1945, and the LVBP has run almost continuously since. Its clubs — Leones del Caracas, Navegantes del Magallanes and the rest — carry rivalries as old as the league itself; the Caracas–Magallanes fixture is among the most-watched sporting events in the country.
Political and economic crisis since the mid-2010s has reduced budgets and driven many players abroad, and United States sanctions have at times complicated the participation of major-league players. The league has nonetheless kept playing throughout.
Governance
The league is governed by its member clubs and is a member of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation.