Alcides Escobar of the Washington Nationals fields a ground ball during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on July 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
By Julian Guilarte
World Baseball Network
Shortstop Alcides Escobar, 36 signed with the Acereros de Monclova in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol Sunday and made his debut that night.
The Acereros signed him for their playoff push, and the news was reported by the team before Sunday’s game. Escobar played in Major League Baseball for 13 years, and his career was highlighted by winning the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
Escobar had a career year in 2015, when he was an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and was the ALCS MVP When the Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. Escobar drove in five runs and had an OPS of 1.134 in 27 at-bats against the Blue Jays in the ALCA. Escobar also hit a home run in the World Series against the New York Mets. He hit three home runs, drove in 47 runs and stole 17 bases in 2015. Escobar played with the Royals for eight seasons from 2011 to 2018.
Born in Venezuela, Escobar is a cousin of Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and former MLB pitcher Kelvim Escobar. Alcides Escobar signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as an international free agent when he was 16 years old and made his debut in 2008 with Milwaukee, where he played for three seasons.
After his time with the Royals, Escobar went to play baseball in Japan with the Yakult Swallows in the Japan Central League in 2020. He hit one home run, drove in 30 runs and stole six bases in Japan. Escobar then came back to North America and finished out his career with the Washington Nationals, playing there for two seasons.
Escobar’s MLB career totals include 45 home runs, 478 RBI, 178 SB and a .640 OPS.
In 2023, he started his season in the Mexican League, playing 55 games with Leones de Yucatan. He hit one home run and drove in 17 runs. Escobar was never known for his bat and was always a defense-first shortstop.
On Sunday, he had one hit and three strikeouts in his debut with Acereros de Monclova. Acereros de Monclova (33-31) won 3-2 against Toros de Tijuana (39-26). They’ll play again Monday night at 10:35 p.m. ET.
All Liga Mexicana de Beisbol games are streamed on Jonron.tv.