Benji Gil may not have gotten a job managing a Major League Baseball team — yet — but he’s still one of the top skippers anywhere in the world.
Returning for his second season at the helm of Guadalajara’s boys of winter, the Charros de Jalisco, Gil has a finger on the pulse of Mexican baseball better than most, as he was the manager for Mexico’s 2023 World Baseball Classic entry. He’s also well-traveled in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico, having played for the Tomateros de Culiacan, Aguilas de Mexicali, and Algodoneros de Guasave. He knows how to succeed as a manager, too, having led the Tomateros to the LAMP title in 2014-15, his first season managing in the league.
Gil and the Charros selected 19 players between the Mexican and Foreign Player Drafts, and it’s unsurprising that 14 of them are pitchers. Last year, Jalisco had the second-worst ERA in the LAMP regular season with a 4.04 mark and allowed 4.50 runs per game. Among those selected was Wilfredo Ramirez, who posted a 1.69 ERA for the Charros in 21 1/3 innings over 20 appearances last season.
Jack Mayfield, a four-year Major Leaguer with the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners, returns to the Charros and will serve as captain. The Del Rio, Texas-native hit .293/.368/.496 with five homers and 30 RBIs, and kept swinging a hot bat for the Toros de Tijuana over the summer.
Manager – Benji Gil (Second season)
2023-24 Record – 35-33, Fifth in LAMP
2003-24 Playoff Results – Lost in Quarterfinals 4-2 to Venados de Mazatlan
First Game – Saturday, October 12 vs. Venados de Mazatlan, 8 p.m. EDT
Mexican Player Draft Selections (Position – 2024 Team or MLB Organization/League)
Number indicates round in which player was selected
1. Aaron Lugo (IF – Free Agent)
2. Axel Munoz (P – Free Agent)
3. Victor Contreras (P – El Aguila de Veracruz/LMB)
4. Wilfredo Ramirez (P – Rieleros de Aguascalientes/LMB)
5. Carlos Baeza (OF – Charros de Jalisco/LMB)
6. Diego Carrillo (P – Pericos de Puebla/LMB)
7. Alexander Ibarra (P – Free Agent)
8. Alan Carpinteiro (P – Free Agent)
9. Fernando Altamirano (P – Free Agent)
10. Edgar Benitez (P – Free Agent)
11. Angel Barbosa (C – Free Agent)
Foreign Player Draft Selections (Position – 2024 Team or MLB Organization/League)
Number indicates round in which player was selected
1. Ronald Medrano (P – Rieleros de Aguascalientes/LMB)
2. Joe Wieland (P – Olmecas de Tabasco/LMB)
3. Addison Russell (IF – Acereros de Monclova/LMB)
4. Teddy Stankiewicz (P – Toros de Tijuana/LMB)
5. Severino Gonzalez (P – Charros de Jalisco/LMB)
6. Kevin McCarthy (P – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos/LMB)
7. Andrew Perez (P – Charros de Jalisco/LMB)
8. Drew Stankiewicz (IF – Pericos de Puebla/LMB)
Photo: Manager Benji Gil of Team Mexico looks on during the playing of the national anthems prior to Game 1 of Pool C between Team Colombia and Team Mexico at Chase Field on Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
