After the conclusion of Game 7 of the first round series between the Tomateros de Culiacan and the Caneros de Los Mochis, the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico conducted a reinforcement draft in advance of the league’s semifinals series.
The two LAMP semifinals series will pit the eighth-seeded Algodoneros de Guasave against the fourth-seeded Tomateros de Culiacan and the No. 6 seed, the Charros de Jalisco, against the No. 7 seed, the Aguilas de Mexicali. The winner of each series will advance to the 2026 Caribbean Series at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, the Charros de Jalisco’s home ballpark.
Here are each team’s selections in the semifinal reinforcement draft.
Algodoneros de Guasave – The Algodoneros had the second-highest team ERA in the regular season, and despite that, they somehow stifled the Jaguares de Nayarit offense in the first round upset of the top seed. They added pitching in the reinforcement draft, adding reliever Tyler Jandron from Nayarit, who threw seven innings over three appearances in the first round, and starter Braulio Torres-Perez from the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, who allowed two runs over six innings in one start in the first round.
Aguilas de Mexicali – Fans in Mexicali have to be pleased with the team’s selections, as the Aguilas added a big bat in Willie Calhoun and a veteran starter in Odrisamer Despaigne. Calhoun drove in five runs and had 12 total bases in the first round and hit 11 homers and drove in 39 runs in the regular season. Despaigne made two starts against Mexicali in the first round, allowing six runs in 11 1/3 innings and striking out five.
Charros de Jalisco – The defending champs added catcher Santiago Chavez, one of the LAMP’s top defensive backstops, and closer Matt Foster, who spent parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox and had a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings of work, striking out 31 and walking 12 in 31 appearances.
Tomateros de Culiacan – Lorenzo Bundy added some familiar faces, getting Panamanian outfielder Allen Cordoba, who’s expected to play for Panama at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, from the Yaquis de Obregon, and infielder Carlos Sepulveda from the Jaguares de Nayarit. Both players were a part of Bundy’s championship Diablos Rojos del Mexico team in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol last summer, and add a lot of offensive power to the Culiacan lineup.
Photo: Willie Calhoun’s bat powered the Naranjeros de Hermosillo throughout the season, and now he’s headed to the Aguilas de Mexicali as a reinforcement. (Photo courtesy of the Naranjeros de Hermosillo)
