Baseball Champions League Americas: "The Champions League is going to change international baseball forever"

Baseball Champions League Americas Tournament Commissioner Guillermo Ramirez and Mexican Baseball League (LMB) Executive President Horacio de la Vega agreed that the tournament "is going to change international baseball forever" as they revealed the tournament trophy during a pre-tournament press conference at Kukulcan Alamo Park in Merida, Mexico on Wednesday.

"Holding the first edition of the Baseball Champions League Americas here in Mexico is very important. We have discussed this project for two years now," said de la Vega. "The LMB is committed to host the first two editions and we finally got to that moment.

"I'm grateful to the Leones, the State of Yucatan and its Governor Mauricio Vila, who supported this event," the LMB Executive President added. "It is a privilege to be here on this date. The Champions League America opens a new chapter in international baseball. We look forward to launching a Champions League Asia and a Champions League Europe. We foresee the day when we will honour a Champion of Champions, the winner of the global Champions League. This event will have great visibility, thanks to the live broadcast on ESPN and other takers."

De la Vega added that the Baseball Champions League is the result of a joint effort between the WBSC and the LMB.

"Horacio said that he LMB has worked two years on this project," Ramirez said. "The WBSC has worked at least eight years on the Baseball Champions League. I believe that getting to this point is an accomplishment."

Ramirez then addressed the media: "I want to make sure you understand how grateful we are for your interest. This is a key project for international baseball. The Champions League is going to change how we perceive the game internationally. We have had many international tournaments, but the Champions League involves clubs, it's a whole new format. This is why all the world will follow the Baseball Champions League."

"We will have more Champions League, but this is the first one and will remain the inaugural edition forever. You all will be reminded about participating in the first edition. The winning team on Sunday will take home the first-ever trophy, and again, they will remain the first winners forever."

Baseball's first-ever "international tournament of champions" will be played at Parque Kukulcan Alamo Stadium in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, from 28 September to 1 October, with the participation of league champions from Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and USA.

The participating teams are Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, champions of the American Association of Professional Baseball (an official Partner League of Major League Baseball); Alazanes de Granma, the Cuban National League champions; Caimanes de Barranquilla, winners of the Colombian Baseball League; and hosts Leones de Yucatan, LMB champions 2022.