While the high profile summer leagues in USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Mexico have come to some thrilling climaxes in recent weeks, baseball fans around the world can still get their fix with winter professional leagues in Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Cuba all under way along with the Australian summer league - the ABL.
Here's a point of situation on each of the winter professional leagues and the Australian Baseball League.
Mexico
Mexico is the only country in the world with professional baseball all year long. The Mexican Pacific League (LMP), founded in 1945, opened on 13 October.
The 10-team regular season will run through 29 December. Each team will play 68 games, and the top eight finishers will advance to the playoffs. Quarterfinals, semifinals and the final are all best-of-seven series.
Cañeros de Los Mochis are the defending champions.
Venezuela
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) opened on 21 October and is dedicated to Miguel Cabrera, who retired after a legendary career.
The eight participants will compete in a 55-game regular season through 27 December. The top four finishers will advance to the five-team round-robin. The fifth participant will qualify through the best-of-three Serie del Comodin.
The top two finishers of the round-robin will compete in the final.
The Caracas Leones are the defending champions.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Professional League (LIDOM) opened on 19 October. Six teams participate in a 150-game regular season that will run through 22 December.
Tigres del Licey are the defending champions.
Puerto Rico
The Roberto Clemente Professional League (LBPRC) celebrated its opening day in Puerto Rico on 3 November. The league was founded in 1938 and named after Clemente - the MLB great, who died in an aeroplane crash while delivering aid to the victims of the 1972 Managua earthquake - in 2012.
The six-team regular season will play through Friday, 29 December and the post season will begin on 2 January. The top four finishers will advance to the best-of-seven semifinals. The winners will play in the best-of-nine final.
Indios de Mayaguez are the defending champions.
Colombia
Four teams participate in the Colombian Professional League (LPB).
The 2023-24 edition opened on 3 November. The 42-game regular season will run through 30 December. The first-place team after the regular season will advance to the final. The second and third-place finishers will compete in a best-of-five semifinal series starting on 4 January. The best-of-seven final series will open on 13 January.
Vaqueros de Monteria are the defending champions.
Cuba
The second edition of the Cuban Elite League (LEB) launched on 7 November. Each of the six participants will play a 40-game regular season through Christmas. The top four finishers will advance to the best-of-seven semifinal series, opening on 4 January. The winners will play the best-of-seven final starting on 15 January.
Agricultores of Granma and Las Tunas won the inaugural edition.
The 63rd 16-team National League (Serie Nacional) will be contested in the Spring and Summer of 2024.
Panama
The Atlanticos, one of the four participants in the Panamiam Professional League (LBPB), announced they wouldn't participate in the 2023-24 edition. The schedule has not been announced yet.
Federales de Chiriqui are the defending champions.
Australia
"Winter League" baseball can also be found during the summer months Down Under. The six-team Australian Baseball League (ABL) opened on 17 November. The 10-week regular season will run through 21 January 2024. Each team will play 40 games. Finals will take place from 26 Jan to 4 February.
The rosters include a majority of World No. 11 Australia's top National Team and nearly 70 players under contract with the Korea Baseball Association (KBO), Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and Major League Baseball (NPB) organizations.
"The league is that good," said ABL General Manager Paul Gonzalez. "The ABL is closer to the top tier competition in the world than other professional Australian competitions."
Ronald Acuna Jr, the National League 2023 MVP, is one of 68 players who made it to MLB after developing in the ABL.
The Adelaide Giants are the defending champions.
