The Diablos Rojos del Mexico, the champions of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol in 2024 and host of the 2025 Baseball Champions League Americas, have announced their roster for the tournament, which will be played next week at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City.
The roster features 17 former Major League Baseball players and several others who have seen time in the minor leagues.
The most notable name on the roster is Robinson Canó, who was an eight-time MLB All-Star and fivetime silver slugger award winner. In 2024 at age 41, Canó led the LMB with a .431 average and a 1.114 OPS for the Diablos, and batted .353/.395/.471 with the Estrella Orientales of LIDOM last winter.
Another key hitter for them will be another former Seattle Mariner, José Marmolejos, who was third for the Diablos in OPS with 1.030 in 2024 and 10 homers. Along with Cano, Marmolejos should be one of their best hitters at the event.
On the mound, one of the leaders in the starting rotation will be Ricardo Pinto. The righty from Venezuela played in MLB for parts of three seasons, including six appearances for Philadelphia last season, and made nine starts with La Guaira of the LVBP in Venezuela last winter. He represented Venezuela in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 and posted a 2.61 ERA in two starts.
Ricky Karcher will be a reliever to watch for the Diablos. The former minor leaguer pitched for Hermosillo in the LAMP this past winter and was one of the best relievers in the league, posting a 0.97 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 37 innings. His 12.9 K/9 ranked fourth in the league, and he should be this team’s best overall reliever.
The Diablos Rojos, heavy favorites to win the Baseball Champions League Americas, will open up the tournament on April 8 against the Titanes de Florida, the champions of Puerto Rico’s Liga Superior de Beisbol Doble ‘A’. On April 10, they will play Nicaragua’s Tigres de Chinandega.
