Dominican Republic is located on the large island of Hispaniola in the Great Antilles archipelago at the Caribbean region. The Dominican Republic loves baseball. Except for the United States, the Dominican Republic has the largest number of professional baseball players and a lot of them ends up in the United States' MLB (Major League Baseball).

Their best baseball players international players started with Ozzie Virgil Sr who got into the MLB in 1956. Later on players like Julian Javier, Robinson Cano, Francisco Liriano, Pedro Martinez, Jose Bautista, Manny Ramirez, Hanley Ramirez, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Placido Polanco, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jose Reyes and Sammy Sosa. Some of them even became more than players, like Felipe Alou who became a manager and Omar Minaya a general manager. Their brightest name however is Juan Marichal who becames the only Dominican-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dominican Republic boxers have also brought the country honor. The country have produced a lot of world-class boxers and world champions like Javier Fortuna, Elio Tojas and Agapito Sanchez. Al Horford, Francisco Garcia and Felipe Lopez are some of the Dominican-born NBA (National Basketball Association) players who have been making a name for themselves.

The Dominican Republic has won a total of six Olympic medals (3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze), two of which (gold) came from Felix Sanchez (Athletics, hurdles).

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to The Dominican Republic. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Dominican Republic

  • Baseball
  • Football (Soccer)
  • Boxing
  • Volleyball
  • Cycling
  • Horse Racing
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Surfing

Dominican Republic Sporting Success

  • Won 2013 World Baseball Classic
  • Juan Soto won the World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019
  • Dominican Republic won 3 medals (1 gold and 2 bronze) at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Marileidy Paulino was the first woman from the Dominican Republic who has won an Olympic gold medal.
  • Félix Sánchez won his first Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 400m hurdles. He won his second Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic at the 2012 London Olympics in the 400m hurdles. 

Great athletes from Dominican Republic

  • Robinson Canó - named the Most Valuable Player at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Canó was born in the Dominican Republic, and played as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.
  • Juan Marichal - the only Dominican-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • Al Horford: He is a four-time basketball All-Star and two-time NBA champion.
  • Rafael Campos - He is a two-time PGA Tour Winner.
  • Victor Estrella Burgos - He is a two-time ATP Tour winner.
  • Félix Sánchez - He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Dominican Republic Sports trivia

  • The Dominican Republic has more baseball academies per capita than any other country in the world, serving as training grounds for future MLB stars.
  • Baseball is so ingrained in Dominican culture that the country celebrates National Baseball Day every February 5th.
  • Marileidy Paulino's 2024 Olympic gold in the women's 400m made history as the first Olympic gold medal won by a Dominican woman.

Dominican Republic at major events

Past sporting events hosted in Dominican Republic

  • 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo
  • Multiple Caribbean Series baseball tournaments

Upcoming sporting events in the Dominican Republic

Annual sporting events held in Dominican Republic

  • The Dominican Republic National Baseball Championship - This event is held every year in October.
  • The Dominican Republic National Basketball Championship - This event is held every year in April.
  • The Dominican Republic National Volleyball Championship - This event is held every year in May.
  • The Dominican Republic National Soccer Championship - This event is held every year in June.
  • The Dominican Republic National Swimming Championship - This event is held every year in July.
  • The Dominican Republic National Track and Field Championship - This event is held every year in August. 
  • The Dominican Republic National Cycling Championship - This event is held every year in September.
  • The Dominican Republic National Horse Racing Championship - This event is held every year in December.

Sporting Facilities in Dominican Republic

  • Quisqueya Stadium
  • Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte
  • International Tennis Center
  • Estadio Cibao - Aguilas Cibaenas
  • Santo Domingo Tennis Club - La Bocha