As the regular season comes to an end in Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) and the playoffs are underway, here are the top 10 performers of the regular season.
1. Robinson Cano, Second Baseman Diablos Rojos
The 41-year-old made an immediate splash when the 17-year MLB veteran made his LMB debut in 2024. The Dominican-born player made history for the Diablos Rojos, becoming the first player to win the league’s batting title in 21 years. Cano batted an outstanding .431 in 78 games. This impressive season ranks as the sixth-highest average for a batting champion in the league’s history. Cano became the third player to win the batting title at 40 years or older, joining Al Pinkston and Julio Franco. On top of the batting crown, Cano was second in the league with a 1.114 OPS, 14 home runs, and 77 RBIs. He also led the league with 141 hits.
2. Art Charles, First Baseman Leones de Yucatán
Charles made history for Yucatán in his seventh season with the team and eighth overall in the LMB. He became the first batter in Lions history to lead the league in home runs. The 33-year-old from the United States hit 33 home runs in 2024, four above second place. This season, Charles saw a significant jump in homers from 2023, where he had 12. He has risen to second on the list of home run hitters in the history of the Lions with 93, only behind Ray Torres, who has 210. Charles also became the 25th player born in the U.S. to lead the league in home runs. On top of homers, Charles led the LMB in OPS with a 1.119 and was third in runs driven in with 81.
3. Trevor Bauer, RHP Diablos Rojos
Bauer was dominant in his first season in the LMB. The 33-year-old righty from the U.S. moved to Mexico after playing two seasons in the NPB in Japan and ten seasons in the MLB. Bauer tied for the league lead in wins at ten and did not suffer a loss in his 14 starts. He also showcased his major league pitching by leading the league in strikeouts with 120. A 2.48 ERA in 81 innings from Bauer was good for second-best in the league—an incredible season in his first year in the LMB for the former major league veteran.
4. Julian Ornelas, OF Diablos Rojos
Ornelas had a career season in 2024, his fourth season in the LMB with the Diablos Rojos. The Mexican-born player led the league with 84 RBIs, the fourth Red Devils player to complete this feat in the franchise’s history. The 27-year-old is the first Mexican-born player to lead the LMB in RBIs since Jesse Castillo in 2018. Ornelas batted .320 in 79 games and hit 16 home runs in 2024.
5. Zac Grotz, RHP Monclova Steelers
Grotz led the LMB in ERA with a 2.35 in his second season with the Steelers. He became just the fourth pitcher in Monclova’s history to accomplish this feat. The 31-year-old righty finished the season with a 7-1 record and 81 strikeouts. Grotz is just the 20th American-born pitcher to lead the LMB in ERA. In his second season, Grotz significantly improved his 4.42 ERA from last season to become the league leader in 2024. In 76 innings this season, Grotz allowed 20 earned runs.
6. Cesar Valdez, RHP Leones de Yucatán
Valdez was one of three pitchers to lead the LMB in wins in 2024. He tied Trevor Bauer and Juan Pablo Oramas with ten wins on the season. Valdez finished his campaign with a 10-6 record and a 4.06 ERA. The 39-year-old from the Dominican Republic returned to the LMB after being absent from the league since 2019, where he also led the league in wins with 15. Valdez is the fourth Yucatán pitcher to lead a season in games won, the first since 2016, and the first to ever do it twice. He struck out 73 batters and was top 10 in the league in WHIP, with a 1.21.
7. Yurisbel Gracial, UTIL Querétaro Conspirators
Gracial made his LMB debut in 2024 and immediately contributed to Querétaro. The 38-year-old began his professional career playing in the Cuban National Series for the Matanzas Crocodiles. Gracial, born in Cuba, played 12 seasons in the CNS for the Crocodiles. After the CNS, he played five seasons in the NPB in Japan. In Gracial’s first season in the LMB, he batted .382 with a 1.107 OPS, hit 24 home runs, and drove in 83 runs, all good for the top five in the league.
8. Lewin Díaz, UTIL Diablos Rojos
Diaz signed with the Campeche Pirates in April 2024 after playing 112 games for the Miami Marlins. After 51 games, the Pirates traded Diaz to the Diablos Rojos in July. In his first full season in the LMB, the Dominican-born player had an impressive season. Diaz batted .375 with a 1.099 OPS, both top five in the league. He also finished in the top 10 in the LMB in RBIs and home runs with 77 and 19, respectively. The 27-year-old impacted the two teams he played for this season.
9. Erick Leal, RHP Diablos Rojos
The 29-year-old Venezuelan had his best season in his fourth year in the LMB. Leal played his second season for the Red Devils and proved to be one of the best pitchers in the league. He finished the season with an 8-1 record, good for the top 10 in the league. Leal also posted a career-best 2.91 ERA, the fourth-best in the LMB. He struck out 95 batters in 80 innings for the Red Devils, also in the top five in the league.
10. Leonys Martin, UTIL Querétaro Conspirators
Martin began his professional career at 17, playing in his home country in the Cuban National Series. He then played nine seasons in the MLB for the Rangers, Mariners, Cubs, Tigers, and Guardians. Before Martin’s LMB debut in 2024, he played four seasons in the NPB. In year one with the Conspirators, Martin batted .305 with an OPS of 1.040 and was in the top 10 in the league. He fell four home runs short of the league lead with 29 on the season. Martin drove in 74 RBIs on top of his impressive season.
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WBN Liga Mexicana de Beisbol: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mexico/
Photo Credit: Mexico’s Diablos Rojos Robinson Cano hits the ball during the first inning of the first exhibition baseball game against New York Yankees, at the Alfredo Harp Helu stadium in Mexico City on March 24, 2024. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
