Spring training for Major League Baseball begins soon with pitchers and catchers reporting in two weeks. However, if you can’t wait to see baseball games on TV, MLB Network has you covered.
It will broadcast the entire 2025 Caribbean Series beginning Jan. 31. This prestigious international tournament features teams from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and, for the first time, Japan (yes, Japan). The tournament consists of 14 games across 8 days in Mexicali, Mexico. It starts with Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic on Jan. 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by Puerto Rico vs. Mexico at 11 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Feb. 7 at 10 p.m.
Veteran broadcaster Craig Minervini will be one of the voices calling the action, along with Doug Wright, Rod Allen, and Jeff Nelson. Minervini, Allen, and Nelson all contribute to Miami Marlins broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network Florida. Minervini has enjoyed a long career that started with broadcasting World Wrestling Entertainment matches under the pseudonym Craig DeGeorge. We recently caught up with Minervini to learn more about the Caribbean Series and to discuss his career.
Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Awful Announcing: Why should someone tune in to watch the Caribbean Series?
Craig Minervini: “By this time of the year, you’re dying for some baseball if you’re a baseball fan. You’ve had enough with the Winter League. Okay, the Dodgers, who are they signing today for $150 million? Let’s get some baseball. So, you got quality baseball. It’s not major league baseball in the sense that every guy is a major league star. There are a lot of major leaguers that are playing in this tournament. A lot of them you never heard of, but it’s a quality baseball. There’s no question about it. It’s good, and then there’s the excitement. The games are gonna be in Mexicali with music and fans, and they’re into it.”
Why is Japan in this tournament?
“Each year, they have brought in guests. For example, they brought in Colombia a few years ago. Colombia won in 2022. The history of this is you have these four: Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Then you have Cuba, which comes in sometimes, and other countries. So this year, they probably worked a deal out with Japan, and they’re bringing in a team called the Japan Breeze.”
How challenging is it for you in terms of preparation?
“It’s tricky because it’s not what you’re used to in the major leagues with all kinds of information. I’m diving into Baseball Reference. It’s not easy. Now, Robinson Canó has just been announced, he’s playing (for the Dominican Republic). Albert Pujols is the manager of the team from the Dominican Republic. There are big-league names. You’ll see managers and say ‘Oh, I know that guy.’ And we don’t even have the rosters. The rosters are just coming out…
“It is a challenge, but that’s not a big deal. We’re used to that. It’s not as easy as preparing for a major league game, but you’re excited to be doing baseball.”
Is there a favorite to win it all?
“The Dominican Republic has won 22 championships, by far the most. Puerto Rico is second with 16. I’d have to go with the Dominican Republic here. Venezuela won last year…You have to win your Winter League to get here, but each team adds reinforcements that they can bring from other teams. But the bulk of the roster has got to play X amount of games on that team. I would have to say the Dominican Republic coming off that win the other night would be the favorite.”
Are there other players fans might recognize?
“Former Marlin Isan Díaz was a champion in Puerto Rico. He was the MVP of the tournament they had to (win to) get here. So he’s probably one of the guys we’re looking out for. Hernán Pérez, Alexi Amarista, I saw on one of the rosters. Some teams have got to decide whether they allow their players to play. You know how the Major League teams can be.”
What’s your role with the Marlins these days?
“I’m the television host on TV and then I do various play-by-play. This year I happen to be doing more games than I did last year by a long shot. I’m doing 47, give or take, almost 50 play-by-play games, either on TV or radio.”
How did you wind up in the Kevin James’ Here Comes the Boom movie?
“I grew up on Long Island. My brother is a standup comedian. He owned a comedy club called The East Side Comedy Club. Kevin started his career there, his brother Gary Valentine, Rosie O’Donnell. Ray Romano played there, (Jerry) Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy. I knew Eddie Murphy when he was 20 years old. Kevin made it huge. My brother Richie’s gotten in his movies. Kevin called me and Richie and asked me if I wanted to be in this movie. So, I’m like, ‘yeah.'”
What do you remember about the experience?
“I had to leave a Marlins road trip to do it. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. It was so much fun… The only thing was the first take. They never give you a lot of direction. I’m used to being on camera, but this is backyard MMA, right? It’s not on camera. There is no camera as far as the scene goes. So the director’s like, ‘Why the F is this guy looking right at the camera?’ He screams, ‘Don’t look at the camera!’ I’m like, oh, all right. So, I ended up walking around the ring and doing it. It was fine.”
Why did you use the name Craig DeGeorge during your wrestling days?
“The WWF wanted me to change my name. They didn’t want Minervini, so I came up with a family name, DeGeorge. I had about 20 minutes to come up with a name before I had to go on camera, and it was a last-minute decision by them. Mean Gene Okerlund yelled to me: ‘Hey kid, the big guy (Vince McMahon) wants you to go on tonight.’ I said ‘OK.’ Gene (said:) “And by the way, he wants you to change your name.'”
Do you have any good stories from your wrestling days?
“I was interviewing Andre the Giant, and it was in Philly at The Spectrum. He had a way of pausing. You never knew when he was finished talking. I had my hand way up, and he stopped talking. I grabbed the mic back. He grabbed the mic with his right arm. With his left arm, he just elbowed me to the gut and nearly buckled me. I wasn’t ready for that. He goes, ‘Oh, I’m not finished talking yet.’ It made for good TV, but my stomach felt it for about a day.”