Left-handed pitcher Kevin McGovern signed with the Charros de Jalisco in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, the American Association X account reported on Thursday.
One of the best to ever do it 🙌
Kevin McGovern has signed with the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League for the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/ABMokOwe2d
— American Association (@AA_Baseball) March 14, 2024
The Charros de Jalisco’s social media accounts have not yet announced the acquisition of McGovern.
McGovern, 34, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. and has played 11 seasons in the American Association, pitching for the Lincoln Saltdogs from 2014-15, the Winnipeg Goldeyes from 2016-20, and the Fargo Moorhead RedHawks from 2020-23.
McGovern holds the American Association record for most innings pitched with 1,039.1, in strikeouts with 946, and 71 career wins. He was a three-time All-Star in the American Association and has won three Miles Wolff Cup championships, claiming the title with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 2016 and 2017 and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in 2022.
Last winter, McGovern played in the Australian Baseball League with the Canberra Cavalry and went 3-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 10 starts, throwing 53.2 innings and allowing 52 hits, 23 earned runs, three home runs, 26 walks, 49 strikeouts, and a 1.453 WHIP.
During the 2023 regular season with the RedHawks, McGovern posted a 9-8 record with a 3.11 ERA in 19 starts throwing 118.2 innings allowing 101 hits, 41 earned runs, seven home runs, 40 walks, 101 strikeouts, and a 1.188 WHIP.
In the 2022 season, McGovern went 10-3 with a 3.69 ERA, throwing 126.2 innings in 21 starts and threw one complete game. He allowed 119 hits, 52 earned runs, eight home runs, 37 walks, 141 strikeouts, and a 1.232 WHIP helping the RedHawks win their first American Association championship beating the Milwaukee Milkmen in six games.
In 2021, he split the season between the RedHawks and Double-A Springfield in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals on June 12, 2021, and was assigned to Double-A Springfield the same day.
McGovern began the 2021 regular season with the RedHawks and started four games with a 4-0 record and a 1.41 ERA, throwing two complete games with one shutout and throwing 32 innings before he signed with the Cardinals.
In Springfield, McGovern went 1-5 with a 6.33 ERA in 14 starts and 15 appearances, throwing 69.2 innings and allowing 80 hits, 49 earned runs, 18 home runs, 31 walks, 75 strikeouts, and a 1.593 WHIP before he was released on Sept. 7, 2021.
Former Major League Baseball player and 2023 Mexico World Baseball Classic manager Benji Gil will manage the Charros de Jalisco in 2024 season, and also was the manager in Jalisco for the 2023-24 Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico season.
The Charros de Jalisco rejoined the LMB after the ownership bought the Mariachis de Guadalajara franchise at the end of the 2023 season.
A team called the Charros de Jalisco has played in the LMB from 1949-52, 1964-76, and from 1991-95. Generally, team histories in the LMB are claimed by the city, rather than the franchises, which are frequently sold and relocated.
The first game of the 2024 LMB regular season is scheduled for April 11 when the Diablos Rojos del México travel to Puebla, Mexico, to take on the Pericos de Puebla at Estadio Hermanos Serdán.
The Charros de Jalisco will play their first game of the 2024 season on the road against the Raileros of Aguascalientes at Estadio Alberto Romo Chávez in Aguascalientes, Mexico on April 12. The league has yet to announce the game start times.