By ESENDOM
December 2, 2025
Lea en español: Sammy Sosa y Luis Castillo recibirán menciones honoríficas en el Premio Juan Marichal
Key points
Sammy Sosa and Luis Castillo will receive honorary mentions at the fifth Juan Marichal Award ceremony taking place on December 14 in Santo Domingo.
The recognition follows their inductions into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame and the Miami Marlins Hall of Fame, respectively.
This year’s Juan Marichal Award names Juan Soto as the main winner, cementing the prize as a showcase for Dominican legacy in Major League Baseball.
The careers of Sosa and Castillo symbolize two pillars of Dominican baseball: towering home-run power and refined, speed-and-defense baseball built on consistency.
Sammy Sosa and Luis Castillo—icons from different eras of Dominican baseball—will be honored at the fifth edition of the Juan Marichal Award on December 14, 2025, in Santo Domingo. The award’s advisory council used its special clause to grant extraordinary recognition to Dominicans who have left an indelible mark on Major League Baseball (MLB).
Juan Marichal was the first Dominican inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame; you can read more about his career here: https://esendom.com/deportes-2/juan-marichal-dandy-dominicano-biografia-estadisticas-legado
At the ceremony, Juan Soto will be celebrated as the top Dominican baseball player of the 2025 season—his second consecutive Marichal Award. The night brings together today’s stars with legends of the past, a celebration that resonates for Dominicans on the island and across the globe—evoking memories from the 1998 home-run race to the 2003 World Series.
Sosa’s honor follows his recent induction into the Chicago Cubs of Fame, a historic reconciliation with the franchise where he forged his legend. With the Cubs, he hit 545 of his 609 career home runs, won the 1998 National League Most Valuable Player Award, made seven All-Star teams, captured six Silver Sluggers awards, and remains the only player in MLB history with three seasons of 60+ home runs. For generations of Dominicans, Sosa proved that a kid from a batey could conquer the baseball world.
Luis Castillo represents another dimension of Dominican excellence: speed, baseball IQ on the bases, and exceptional defense. A member of the Marlins’ inaugural Hall of Fame class, he is the franchise’s all-time leader in games and hits. Castillo was pivotal to the 2003 World Series title, a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover, and two-time NL stolen base leader. His 35-game hitting streak remains the longest by a Dominican player in MLB history.
Since 2021, when Albert Pujols inaugurated the Juan Marichal Award’s honorary mentions, the prize has built a living narrative of Dominican impact at the sport’s highest level. Honorees have included Jeremy Peña, Julio Rodríguez, Domingo Germán, Rico Carty, Manny Ramírez, Ketel Marte, and Nelson Cruz.
Sosa and Castillo embody two faces of Dominican excellence: the explosive power that turned Chicago into Dominican territory for one unforgettable summer, and the refined game that helped make Miami a home base for the Dominican community in the United States. On December 14, the Juan Marichal Award will celebrate not only a season—but a legacy still growing.
Profile: Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta Sosa was born November 12, 1968, in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macorís. After losing his father as a child, he helped his family by shining shoes and washing cars before baseball opened another path. Signed as a teenager by the Texas Rangers, he debuted in MLB in 1989 and found his definitive home with the Chicago Cubs in 1992.
In Chicago, he transformed from a speedy outfielder with occasional pop into a cultural phenomenon: the 30–30 season in 1993, the late-’90s home-run explosion, and the storied 1998 campaign with 66 HR, 158 RBI, and the NL MVP. He finished with 609 home runs and 2,408 hits, securing his place among the most influential Dominican players of all time (including ESENDOM’s “Top 20 Dominicans in MLB by WAR”). Though the steroid era complicated his legacy, his impact on youth across the world endures. In 2025, the Cubs closed the circle by inducting him into their Hall of Fame.
Profile: Luis Castillo
Luis Antonio Castillo was born September 12, 1975, in San Pedro de Macorís, another cradle of Dominican talent. Signed by the Florida Marlins in 1992, he debuted in 1996 and established himself as one of the finest second basemen of his generation. A switch-hitter and aggressive runner, he built his legacy with the Marlins over 10 seasons: two stolen-base titles (2000, 2002), three straight Gold Gloves (2003–2005), and a central role in the 2003 World Series championship.
Castillo retired with a .290 batting average, 1,889 hits, and 370 steals, renowned for his steady defense at second. Though he also played for the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets, his strongest bond remained with Miami, where he leads franchise records for games and hits and is a member of the club’s Hall of Fame. For Dominicans, his name stands for consistency and defensive excellence.
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