{{Short description|Professional baseball team based in Rivas, Nicaragua}} {{Infobox baseball team | name = Gigantes de Rivas | location = Rivas, Nicaragua | logo = Gigantes de Rivas logo.svg | cap_logo = Gigantes de Rivas insignia.svg | league = Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League | ballpark = Estadio Yamil Ríos Ugarte | established = {{Start date and age|2013}} | league_champs = '''4''' (2013–14, 2015–16, 2020–21, 2023–24) | series = Caribbean Series | series_champs = | series2 = Latin American Series | series2_champs = 2016 | colors = Blue and orange<br/>{{color box|#1F4495}} {{color box|#EE7D00}} | manager = Germán Mesa | h_pattern_cap = _rivas_home | h_pattern_b = _baseball | h_body = EE7D00| h_leftarm = EE7D00 | h_rightarm = EE7D00 | h_pattern_pants = _bluebelt | h_pants= FFFFFF | h_socks = 1F4495 | a_pattern_cap = _rivas_away | a_pattern_b = _baseball | a_body = 1F4495 | a_leftarm = EE7D00 | a_rightarm = EE7D00 | a_pattern_pants = _bluebelt | a_pants= C0C0C0 | a_socks = 1F4495 }} The '''Gigantes de Rivas''' (English: Rivas Giants) are a professional baseball team based in Rivas, Nicaragua. They compete in the Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (LBPN). The team plays at the Estadio Yamil Ríos Ugarte. Established in 2013, the club has won the LBPN title four times in 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2024. The Gigantes also won the 2016 Latin American Series, becoming the first Nicaraguan team to win the Latin American Series.

==History== The Gigantes de Rivas were established in 2013, ahead of the 2013–14 Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League season. The team's first roster included players such as Randall Simon, managed by Dominican Manny Collado.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gerald|last=Hernández|title=¿Gigantes de verdad?|url=https://www.laprensani.com/2013/10/24/deportes/167330-gigantes-de-verdad|website=La Prensa|date=24 October 2013|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref> The Gigantes won their first LBPN championship on their maiden season, defeating Indios del Bóer in the final series and participated in the 2014 Latin American Series representing Nicaragua, where they finished fourth with a 1–2 record.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gerald|last=Hernández|title=Los Gigantes arrebatan y se coronan|url=https://www.laprensani.com/2014/01/21/deportes/179329-los-gigantes-arrebatan-y-se-coronan|website=La Prensa|date=21 January 2014|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nicaragua vence a Colombia|url=http://www.serielatinoamericana.com/index.php/B%C3%BAsqueda%20inteligente/Actualizar%20Joomla!/noticias-menu/51-nicaragua-vence-a-colombia|website=serielatinoamericana.com|date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228194738/http://www.serielatinoamericana.com/index.php/B%C3%BAsqueda%20inteligente/Actualizar%20Joomla!/noticias-menu/51-nicaragua-vence-a-colombia|archive-date=28 February 2014|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref>

Rivas won the Nicaraguan championship again in the 2015–16 season, this time under manager Germán Mesa. Gigantes defeated Oriental de Granada in the final series to claim their second LBPN title.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gerald|last=Hernández|title=Gigantes de Rivas campeones de la Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Nicaragua|url=https://www.laprensani.com/2016/01/20/deportes/1972778-en-vivo-gigantes-de-rivas-vs-oriental-de-granada-4|website=La Prensa|date=20 January 2016|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref> The team represented Nicaragua in the 2016 Latin American Series, where they were crowned champions defeating Caimanes de Barranquilla in the final game, becoming the first Nicaraguan team to win the Latin American Series.<ref>{{cite web|first=Miguel|last=Sarmiento|title=Gigantes de Rivas de Nicaragua ganan la Serie Latinoamericana|url=https://www.milenio.com/opinion/miguel-sarmiento/hablemos-de-beisbol/gigantes-rivas-nicaragua-ganan-serie-latinoamericana|website=Milenio|date=2 February 2016|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref>

The team won its third championship in the 2020–21 season under Puerto Rican manager Joel Fuentes. The Gigantes defeated Tigres de Chinandega in the final series.<ref>{{cite web|first=Roberto|last=Zúñiga H.|title=Gigantes de Rivas, Campeones de la Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Nicaragua|url=https://www.el19digital.com/articulos/ver/titulo:112005-gigantes-de-rivas-campeones-del-beisbol-profesional-nicaraguense|website=el19digital.com|date=19 January 2021|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref>

Gigantes de Rivas claimed its fourth national championship in the 2023–24 season, defeating Tren del Norte 4 games to 2 in the final series. Gigantes outfielder Francisco Peguero was awarded as the Most Valuable Player of the championship series.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rivas Gigantes win XIX Nicaragua Professional Baseball National League|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/rivas-gigantes-win-xix-nicaragua-professional-baseball-national-league|publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation|date=19 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref> Germán Mesa repeated as manager, winning his second title with the club and third LBPN championship (the other one was in the 2012–13 season with Tigres de Chinandega).<ref>{{cite web|title=Gigantes de Rivas se coronan Campeones de la Liga Profesional|url=https://www.vivanicaragua.com.ni/2024/01/16/deportes/gigantes-rivas-campeones-profesional/|website=Viva Nicaragua Canal 13|date=16 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref>

The club was expected to represent Nicaragua in the nation's debut in the 2024 Caribbean Series. However, Nicaragua did not send the entire Gigantes squad; instead, a squad comprising the best Nicaraguan players will represent Nicaragua in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gigantes de Rivas representará a Nicaragua en la Serie del Caribe 2024|url=https://www.septimaentrada.com/beisbol/gigantes-de-rivas-representara-a-nicaragua-en-la-serie-del-caribe-2024|website=Séptima Entrada|date=17 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jeferson|last=Palacin|title=Gigantes de Rivas "no" representará a Nicaragua en la Serie del Caribe 2024|url=https://meridiano.net/usa/beisbol/beisbol-del-caribe/gigantes-de-rivas-no-representara-a-nicaragua-en-la-serie-del-caribe-2024-202411710460|website=Meridiano.net|date=17 January 2024|access-date=29 January 2024|language=es}}</ref> Nevertheless, various media sources, as well as official CPBC and MLB press releases, continued to refer to the Nicaraguan team as Gigantes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Criollos de Caguas derrotan a los debutantes Gigantes de Rivas |url=https://lidom.com/serie-del-caribe/caguas-derrota-a-los-debutantes-gigantes-de-rivas-41312.html |website=LIDOM.com|publisher=Prensa CPBC|date=1 February 2024|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Harold|last=Capote Fernández|title=Serie del Caribe: ¡A luchar! Vea aquí el róster de Gigantes de Rivas para representar a Nicaragua |url=https://meridiano.net/usa/beisbol/beisbol-del-caribe/serie-del-caribe-a-luchar-vea-aqui-el-roster-de-gigantes-de-rivas-para-representar-a-nicaragua-202413122460|date=31 January 2024|agency=Meridiano|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How to watch 2024 Caribbean Series on ESPN and ESPN Deportes |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39418493/how-watch-2024-caribbean-series-espn-espn-deportes |website=ESPN|date=30 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Venn|first1=David|title=Caribbean Series preview: Big names hit Miami for historic tournament |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2024-caribbean-series-teams-and-preview |agency=MLB.com|date=31 January 2024}}</ref> The Nicaraguan team, managed by Marvin Benard, finished the tournament in last place with a 0–6 record, being eliminated in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|first=Reinaldo|last=Oliveros|title=Nicaragua eliminada de la Serie del Caribe: Las razones del fracaso de Gigantes de Rivas|url=https://meridiano.net/usa/beisbol/beisbol-grandes-ligas/nicaragua-eliminada-de-la-serie-del-caribe-las-razones-del-fracaso-de-gigantes-de-rivas-20242514100|website=Meridiano.net|date=5 February 2024|access-date=8 February 2024|language=es}}</ref>

==Roster== {{baseball tournament roster | TeamName = Gigantes de Rivas | TournamentName = | BC1 = #1F4495 | BC2 = #EE7D00 | FC1 = #FFFFFF | FC2 = #FFFFFF | ActiveAlt = Players | CoachesAlt = Coaches | Pitchers = {{player|29|DOM|Al Alburquerque}} {{player|69|DOM|Mauricio Cabrera}} {{player|72|NCA|Leo Crawford}} {{player|40|BRA|Tiago da Silva}} {{player|35|DOM|Marcos Frías}} {{player|28|CUB|Yunieski García}} {{player|&nbsp;0|NCA|Carlos Gazo}} {{player|41|NCA|Osman Gutiérrez}} {{player|62|CUB|Pavel Hernández}} {{player|97|DOM|Bryan Herrera}} {{player|13|NCA|Ángel Obando}} {{player|&nbsp;6|CUB|Miguel Romero}} {{player|16|DOM|Carlos Sano}} {{player|70|NCA|Kevin Solís}}

| Catchers = {{player|27|NCA|Rafael Estrada}} {{player|22|DOM|Raudy Read}} {{player|23|NCA|José Torrez}}

| Infielders = {{player|47|CUB|Lázaro Alonso}} {{player|59|DOM|Yeison Coca}} {{player|24|NCA|Cheslor Cuthbert}} {{player|61|CUB|Yosmany Guerra}} {{player|&nbsp;7|NCA|Iván Marín}} {{player|25|NCA|Marvin Martínez}} {{player|38|NCA|Wuillians Vasquez}}

| Outfielders = {{player|17|NCA|Darren Britton}} {{player|15|CUB|Rusney Castillo}} {{player|98|NCA|Luis Montealto}} {{player|95|NCA|Cristhian Sandoval}} {{player|12|PAN|Jhonny Santos}} {{player|26|DOM|Jesús Valdez}}

| Manager = {{player|11|CUB|Germán Mesa}}

| Coaches = {{player|20|NCA|Adolfo Álvarez}} {{small|(pitching)}} {{player|&nbsp;8|NCA|Brayan Castillo}} {{small|(coach)}} {{player|&nbsp;4|NCA|Joel Fuentes}} {{small|(coach)}} {{player|51|NCA|Adalid López}} {{small|(third base)}} {{player|10|NCA|José López}} {{small|(first base)}} {{player|39|NCA|Gustavo Martínez}} {{small|(pitching)}} {{player|33|NCA|Aníbal Vega}} {{small|(coach)}}

<small><span class="plainlinks">[https://gig.lbpn.com.ni/es/events/xix-campeonato-lbpn/teams/28188 Roster]</span> updated on 21 February 2025</small> }}

==Championships== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Season ! scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Manager ! scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Opponent ! scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Series score |- | 2013–14 || Manny Collado || Indios del Bóer || 4–2 |- | 2015–16 || Germán Mesa || Oriental de Granada || 4–3 |- | 2020–21 || Joel Fuentes || Tigres de Chinandega || 4–2 |- | 2023–24 || Germán Mesa || Tren del Norte || 4–2 |- style="text-align:center; {{Baseball secondary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | colspan="3" | '''Total championships''' || colspan="2" | '''4''' |}

==Latin American Series record== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Year !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Venue !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Finish !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Wins !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Losses !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Win% !scope="col" style="{{Baseball primary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | Manager |- style="background:gold;" | 2016 || align=left| {{flagicon|NIC}} Managua || 1st || 3 || 1 || {{winpct|3|1}} || align=left| {{flagicon|CUB}} Germán Mesa |- style="text-align:center; background-color:#EE7D00; color:#FFFFFF;" | colspan="3" | '''Total''' || '''3''' || '''1''' || '''{{winpct|3|1}}''' || |}

==Caribbean Series record== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Year !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Venue !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Finish !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Wins !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Losses !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Win% !scope="col" style="background-color:#1F4495; color:#FFFFFF;" | Manager |- | 2024 || align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} Miami || 7th || 0 || 6 || {{winpct|0|6}} || align=left| {{flagicon|NIC}} Marvin Benard |- style="text-align:center; {{Baseball secondary style|Gigantes de Rivas}}" | colspan="3" | '''Total''' || '''0''' || '''6''' || '''{{winpct|0|6}}''' || |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League}}

Category:2013 establishments in Nicaragua Category:Baseball in Nicaragua Category:Baseball teams established in 2013