After finishing dead last in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico last year, the Mayos de Navajoa can only get better.
They’ve got a new manager, with California native Jerry Alvarez replacing Matias Carillo. Alvarez has experience managing in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, having led Buccos clubs in the Dominican Summer League, Florida State League, Gulf Coast League, and Florida Complex League, but has never managed in winter ball before.
He takes over a club that was ninth in the LAMP in runs scored with 3.74 per game. If Art Charles, the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol’s home run leader in 2024, does report to Navajoa, they’ll undoubtedly improve the offense.
Aside from Charles, the Mayos also added several interesting players in the Foreign Player Draft. Jairus Richards is a speedy outfielder who may have been Nicaragua’s best player at the 2024 Caribbean Series at loanDepot Park in Miami. Playing for Tijuana this summer, Richards didn’t post a great batting average, but got on base at a .379 clip and swiped 17 bases in 56 games.
Hard-throwing reliever Sam Bordner is returning to the LAMP after splitting last winter between La Guaira in Venezuela and the Tomateros de Culiacan. The lanky righty had a 3.00 ERA with the Tomateros last year, and while he can be inconsistent, when he’s on his game he’s one of the best relievers in the LMB.
If Jared Lakind, a Miami Marlins draft pick who the Mayos took in the Foreign Player Draft, comes to Navajoa, the Mayos will have two quality relievers in the bullpen. Lakind is a versatile lefty who can make spot starts if necessary, and is equally comfortable coming out of the pen to get lefthanders. In 2018-19, he posted a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over 18 games with the Charros de Jalisco.
Manager – Jerry Alvarez (First season)
2023-24 Record – 25-40, 10th
2003-24 Playoff Results – Lost in Quarterfinals 4-1 to Caneros de Los Mochis
First Game – Saturday, October 12 vs. Caneros de Los Mochis – 8:30 p.m.
Mexican Player Draft Selections (Position – 2024 Team or MLB Organization/League)
Number indicates round in which player was selected
1. Ramiro Dominguez Muniz (IF – El Aguila de Veracruz/LMB)
2. Juan Pablo Cabrera (C – St. Louis Cardinals/LMB)
3. Luis Jorge Suarez (P – Acereros de Monclova/LMB)
4. Gerardo Lopez (P – Philadelphia Phillies/MLB)
5. Luis Moreno (P – Charros de Jalisco/LMB)
6. Roberto Carlos Delgadillo (IF – Leones de Yucatan/LMB)
7. Fausto Charbel Barrera (P – Free Agent)
8. Hector Velasquez (P – Free Agent)
9. Luis Alfonso Cruz (IF – Free Agent)
10. Sergio Perez (OF – Dorados de Chihuahua/LMB)
11. Carlos Emilio Beltran (C – Leones de Yucatan/LMB)
12. Osvaldo Platas Utrera (P – Diablos Rojos del Mexico/LMB)
13. Jesus Loya (OF – Dorados de Chihuahua/LMB)
Foreign Player Draft Selections (Position – 2024 Team or MLB Organization/League)
Number indicates round in which player was selected
1. Art Charles (IF – Leones de Yucatan/LMB)
2. Fernando Perez (P – Rieleros de Aguascalientes/LMB)
3. Jimmy Kerrigan (OF – Bravos de Leon/LMB)
4. Jared Lakind (P – Diablos Rojos del Mexico/LMB)
5. Julian Escobedo (OF – Algodoneros de Union Laguna/LMB)
6. Sam Bordner (P – Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos/LMB)
7. Reza Aleaniz (P – Guerreros de Oaxaca/LMB)
8. Jairus Richards (OF – Toros de Tijuana/LMB)
9. Alejandro Rivero (IF – Dorados de Chihuahua/LMB)
Photo: Jared Lakind pitches for the Sultanes de Monterrey in the fourth inning during Game 4 of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Finals at Estadio Mobil Super on September 9, 2024 in Monterrey, Mexico. (Photo by Alfredo Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Correction: A previous version of this story included information on the Yaquis de Obregon. It has been corrected. We regret the error.
