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LAMP: With Season 1/4 Done, Who Are the Best Players In Mexico’s Winter League So Far?

 Leif Skodnick - World Baseball Network  |    Nov 1st, 2024 7:00pm EDT

Teams in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico have played 17 games, or 25% of their 68-game schedule for the 2024-25 season.

There have been numerous transactions by all of the league’s 10 teams, and the Venados de Mazatlan made a full-scale change to their coaching staff this week, firing Luis Rivera and bringing in J.J. Pacho, as well as coaches Heber Gómez, Adán Muñoz, Jorge Luis Loredo, and Joe Álvarez to try and right the ship for a team that was 4-11 when the firings were made.

So far, the Tomateros de Culiacan have been running away with the first half of the season, going

Who have been the 10 best players in the league so far? Let’s take a look:

10. Robert Stock, P, Naranjeros de Hermosillo – After a great summer with Dos Laredos of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, Stock has been sensational so far with the Naranjeros so far this winter season. He’s thrown 25 innings over four games, posting a 1.80 ERA with 21 strikeouts and an 0.860 WHIP. At 34, Stock might not return to Major League Baseball, but he’s pitching well and could earn himself a spring training invite with winter ball success.

9. Felipe Gonzalez, P, Yaquis de Obregon – Now in his fourth season in Obregon, Gonzalez’s numbers may not be stellar, as he’s got a 3.38 ERA in eight innings of relief work, but Gonzalez can be a top reliever in winter ball. He’s struggled with command this season, walking seven, but if his command returns, he’s capable of posting a sub-3.00 ERA while pitching every other day out of the bullpen.

8. Reynaldo Rodriguez, C, Charros de Jalisco – At age 38, Rodriguez continues to be a solid power bat for the Charros. He has 20 hits and 16 RBIs in 17 games this winter, and is hitting .313/.343/.516. Look for Rodriguez to move around later in the winter as a reinforcement, either in the LAMP or in another league as the Caribbean Series draws near.

7. Manny Barreda, P, Tomateros de Culiacan – Though his MLB career was only three games long, Barreda has an extensive body of work in Mexico, which he has represented in six Caribbean Series. Now in his 10th season in Culiacan, Barreda has posted a 1.06 ERA over 17 innings of work.

6. Yadir Drake, RF, Algodoneros de Guasave – Drake, who escaped Cuba with Yasiel Puig, is batting .333/.370/.546 with two homers and 13 RBIs for Guasave. He’s a potential reinforcement for the playoffs or the Caribbean Series should Guasave be eliminated.

5. Alejandro Mejia, DH, Aguilas de Mexicali – Alejandro Mejia (not Alex Mejia, who also plays for the Aguilas) may not hit for average, but he’s been driving in runs this season, helping the Eagles fly early on. Despite hitting .222/.254/.444, he’s pushed 14 runs across the plate for Mexicali, which hopes to have home field advantage in the Caribbean Series this year.

4. Victor Castaneda, P, Tomateros de Culiacan – Castaneda returned home to Culiacan for his third season with the Tomateros, and he’s been dominant for the best team in the league. In three games, Castaneda has a 1.35 ERA over 20 innings, striking out 14 with a .0750 WHIP.

3. Yasmany Tomas, 1B, Caneros de Los Mochis – Tomas, who played parts of four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has provided Felix Fermin’s club with plenty of power thus far, knocking five doubles and three home runs. He leads the league in RBIs with 17.

2. Cristian Santana, OF, Tomateros de Culiacan – Santana, a native of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, is batting .300/..389/.517 with an OPS of .906 thus far, and is tied for the league lead in homers with four. With 13 RBIs, he’s a big part of the Tomateros’ success thus far.

1. Carl Edwards Jr., P, Algodoneros de Guasave – Edwards, a veteran of 296 MLB games across 10 seasons, only faced three MLB batters this year, giving up a hit and two walks in his lone appearance with the San Diego Padres. A free agent this offseason, Edwards is likely pitching in the LAMP in hopes of earning himself an invite to spring training come February, and thus far, he’s been exceptional for the Algodoneros. He’s made four starts and posted a 0.39 ERA over 23 innings pitched, allowing 13 hits and six walks for a WHIP of 0.860. Interestingly, Edwards has never made an MLB start, but seems to have found a new groove as a starter this winter.

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