LAMP: Players to Watch In Mexico’s Winter League

Outstanding Performers – Yaquis de Obregón second baseman Carlos Sepulveda is putting on a great display of offense this season.In 37 games, Sepulveda has had 133 at-bats and is batting .353, good for third in the league, while knocking 47 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, one home run, with 12 RBI, 22 walks, 20 strikeouts, and a .918 OPS this season. 

Aguilas de Mexicali left fielder Norberto Obeso is another player to watch for this season in LAMP. Obeso is currently leading the league with a .391 average and is well in front of Yaquis de Obregon outfielder Taiki Sekene at .355. Obeso has played in 24 games with 92 at-bats and has smacked 36 hits, eight doubles, eight RBI, 12 walks, 13 strikeouts, and a .940 OPS. 

Mexicali designated hitter Kennys Vargas is leading the league in RBI with 33, one better than Rainel Rosario of the Algodoneros de Guasave with 32 and Max Murphy of the Mayos de Navojoa at 31. In 38 games and 134 at-bats, Vargas has 41 hits while batting .306 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 20 walks, 33 strikeouts, and a .940 OPS. 

Naranjeros de Hermosillo center fielder Jose Cardona has put his speed to the test this season with leading the LAMP with swiping 19 stolen bases. Mallex Smith of the Tomateros de Culiacán is second with 11. Cardona in 38 games is batting .313 with 160 at-bats while recording 50 hits, six doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, seven walks, and 19 strikeouts including a .735 OPS. 

Aguilas de Mexicali starting pitcher Marcelo Martinez is having a great year, posting a 2.01 ERA, just behind Luis Payan of the Mayos de Navojoa at 1.86, Jeff Kinley of Algodoneros de Guasave at 1.72 and Jose Bravo of Tomateros de Culiacán at 1.11 among starters. Martinez’s record is 4-0 over eight starts, and he has thrown 40.1 innings, allowing 24 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, 11 walks, striking out 34 batters, and leading LAMP with a 0.868 WHIP. 

Tomateros de Culiacán relief pitcher Spencer Bivens and Algodoneros de Guasave relief pitcher Peyton Gray are currently tied for first in LAMP with 12 saves. Bivens has a 0-1 record in 18 appearances out of the bullpen with 1.02 ERA, while throwing 17.2 innings, allowing 17 hits, two earned runs, two walks, 14 strikeouts, and a 1.075 WHIP.  Gray has thrown 20.2 innings and has no earned runs allowed, appearing in 20 games out of the bullpen, allowing nine hits, seven walks, and striking out 32. 

Play in the LAMP will resume on November 28 with five games. The Mayos de Navojoa will travel on the road to play Charros de Jalisco at Estadio Panamericano at 8:30 p.m. EST. Tomateros de Culiacán will host Naranjeros de Hermosillo at 9:05 p.m. EST at Estadio Tomateros. Sultanes de Monterrey will go on the road to play Yaquis de Obregon at 9:10 p.m. EST at Estadio Yaquis. Venados de Mazatlán will go on the road to play Cañeros de Los Mochis at Chevron Park at 9:30 p.m. EST. The Algodoneros de Guasave will play on the road against Aguilas de Mexicali at El Nido de los Aguilas at 10:30 p.m. EST. 

Eight teams in LAMP will qualify for the playoffs in January prior to the start of the 2024 Caribbean Series in Miami at loanDepot Park from February 1-9. 

All LAMP games can be streamed through their paid subscription website on https://www.extrabase.tv/ until the final out of their championship series in January. 

LAMP 2023-24 Standings
Team (Wins–Losses/GB)
1. Algodoneros de Guasave (25-13/X)
2. Tomateros de Culiacán (19-17/5) 
3. Venados de Mazatlán (20-18/5) 
4. Cañeros de Los Mochis (20-18/5) 
5. Yaquis de Obregón (20-18/5) 
6. Mayos de Navojoa (18-17/5.5) 
7. Naranjeros de Hermosillo (19-19/6)
8. Aguilas de Mexicali (18-20/7)
9. Sultanes de Monterrey (13-20/9.5) 
10. Charros de Jalisco (13-25/12)