The two-time defending champs in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol have brought back a former Major Leaguer for 2026.
Jon Singleton, who appeared in 272 MLB games with the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers from 2014-25, has signed with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico for the 2026 season. The Harbor City, California native also played for the Diablos in the 2021 season.
In the Major Leagues, Singleton has batted .197/.299/.345 with 29 homers and 104 RBIs with his best season coming with the Astros in 2024, where he appeared in a career-high 119 games and batted .234/.321/.707 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs, serving primarily as a designated hitter and first baseman. With the Diablos in 2021, Singleton hit .321/.503/.693 with a 1.196 OPS, 15 homers and 36 RBIs in 46 games.
This winter, Singleton has been a key power bat for the Tomateros de Culiacan of the Liga ARCO Mexicana de Beisbol, appearing in 53 regular season games and batting .284/.437/.497 with eight homers, 15 doubles, and 30 RBIs in 183 at-bats.
Utilityman Drew Stankiewicz, Relievers Pardinho, Ishikawa Join Saltillo – After reaching the Serie del Rey in 2025 with the Charros de Jalisco, Drew Stankiewicz will stay in the Zona Norte with the Saraperos de Saltillo.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Stankiewicz has played four seasons in the LMB, playing for the Pericos de Puebla in 2021, 2023, and 2024, and splitting 2025 between the Piratas de Campeche and Jalisco. In 245 LMB games, the utility infielder batted .261/.345/.397 with 20 homers, 105 RBIs, and a .753 OPS.
Joining Stankiewicz in Saltillo next season are right-handed relievers Eric Pardinho and Shoh Ishikawa. Pardinho pitched in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional with the Tiburones de La Guaira this winter, throwing 36 2/3 innings with a 4.91 ERA. In seven minor league seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, the Lucelia, Brazil-native rose as high as Triple-A, where he had a 4.63 ERA in 46 2/3 innings.
Ishikawa appeared in one game with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chunichi Dragons as an 18-year-old in 2018 and pitched for the Dragons’ minor league affiliate through the end of the 2025 season, making 72 appearances totaling 72 1/3 innings with a 5.90 ERA, but never throwing more than 18 2/3 innings in a season.
Pitching Coach Canned In Campeche – Jaime Navarro has been fired as pitching coach by the Piratas de Campeche, who lost the Zona Sur championship series to the eventual champion Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the 2025 season. Campeche also fired analyst Manuel Aguilar. Replacements have yet to be named.
Photo: Former Houston Astro Jon Singleton will play for the LMB’s Diablos Rojos del Mexico in 2026. (AP Photo)
