Another month is in the wraps of several leagues around baseball. With Liga Mexicana de Beisbol wrapping up their regular season, the KBO and NPB still have about a month left in their respective seasons. With that being said, we’ve put together an International Team of the Month for July:
Catcher: Ho Kang-Min- Samsung Lions (KBO)
Ho Kang-Min had an incredible month in July. He hit .408 in the KBO and mashed 11 home runs in the month, tallying 31 hits with an OPS of 1.312. The 38-year-old backstop is in his 21st professional season, debuting in 2004. Ho has crushed 15 home runs this season and is batting .304.
First Base: Kazuma Okamoto- Yomiuri Giants (NPB)
Taking this month’s honor at first base is Kazuma Okamoto. The 28-year-old is crushing it this season, hitting 17 home runs so far through 98 games played. In his NPB career so far, throughout 12 seasons, he’s blasted 223 home runs. It will only be a matter of time before Okamoto can make the transition to the MLB.
Second Base: Alen Hanson- Conspiradores de Querétaro (LMB)
Alen Hanson has been quite the sight to see play in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB). The former 4-year MLB veteran, playing in seasons with the Pirates, White Sox, Giants, and Blue Jays, had an incredible month of July. In 23 games played, Hanson hit .367, blasting seven home runs and 20 RBIs. Playing in 80 games, the 31-year-old hit .335, hitting 16 home runs and driving in 49 RBIs.
Third Base: Kim Do-Yeong- Kia Tigers (KBO)
Kia Tigers third baseman Kim Do-Yeong is taking the hot corner for July. At just 20 years old, Kim is having one of the most stellar seasons we’ve seen in the KBO. In his 3rd season, Kim has 29 home runs, 82 RBIs, and hitting .359. Kim also has wheels around the bases, where he has stolen 30 bases. Kim hit seven home runs in July.
Shortstop: Alexi Amarista- Guerreros de Oaxaca (LMB)
Another former MLB veteran for the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies made his way into the LMB, in Alexi Amarista. The 7-year MLB veteran had the best average in the league for July, hitting .495 in 25 games. Amarista also displayed his power last month, crushing eight home runs, driving in 24 RBIs, and hitting three triples. For the season, Amarista hit .361 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs with an OBP of .402.
Outfield: Tyler Austin- Yokohama Bay Stars (NPB)
Tyler Austin has not looked back since transitioning into the NPB in 2020. Making his MLB debut on the same day as Aaron Judge, he played four seasons with the Yankees, Twins, Giants, and Brewers. Austin played stellar in his first two seasons with the Bay Stars, blasting 48 home runs, with his average over the .270 marker in both years. After limited action in the past two seasons due to injuries, he picked up right where he left off in 2021. In 66 games this year, Austin is batting .297, hitting 18 home runs and 46 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .373.
Outfield: Danny Ortiz- Pericos de Puebla (LMB)
In his 16th professional season across all leagues in baseball, Danny Ortiz continues his dominance in Mexico. The Puerto Rican native had a great month of July, where he hit seven home runs and 15 RBIs, hitting .312. After a few seasons in the minor leagues with the Twins and Pirates, the Pirates called him up for his MLB Debut in 2017. Ortiz went 1-12 with the Pirates that season. But, playing in 89 games this year with Pericos de Puebla, Ortiz crushed 28 home runs and 77 RBIs, holding a .283 batting average.
Outfield: Guillermo Heredia- SSG Landers (KBO)
Another former MLB player who took his talents overseas is outfielder Guillermo Heredia. Born in Cuba, Heredia signed a minor league deal in 2016 with the Seattle Mariners. Heredia played seven seasons in the MLB with the Mariners, Rays, Pirates, Mets, and Braves, where he hit .231 in his career. Joining the Landers in 2023, Heredia showed dominance in his first year overseas, hitting .324 with 12 home runs through 122 games. Heredia currently leads the entire KBO, hitting .355. For the season, he’s hit 12 home runs and 84 RBIs, including 20 of his RBIs coming in July.
Designated Hitter: Kensuke Kondoh- Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (NPB)
Playing in his 13th NPB season and making our International Team of the Month for DH is outfielder Kensuke Kondoh. He has played in 96 games this season and has also recorded 69 games as an outfielder. Having another dominant season, he’s currently hitting .323, with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs, with his OPS at .983. He also recently recorded his 100th career home run in his second season playing with the Hawks. Kondoh had previously played with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2012-2022.
Pitcher: Kyle Hart- NC Dinos (KBO)
Taking our pitcher of the month was a no-brainer with NC Dino’s Kyle Hart. Making five starts in July, he carried a 3-0 record, recorded 33 innings pitched, punching out 39 batters, with a 0.55 ERA. In his first season overseas in the KBO, he posted a 10-2 record and a 2.34 ERA, striking out 143 batters in 131 innings. Hart made his MLB Debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2020,
appearing in 4 games, with an era of 15.55. It will be intriguing to see if there is any MLB interest in Hart for 2025.
Reliever: Raidel Martinez- Chunichi Dragons (NPB)
And wrapping up our team of the month, enter closer Raidel Martinez. The 27-year-old, born in Cuba, is in his seventh professional season in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons. Martinez has been putting up video-game numbers all year, recording a 1-3 record with a 1.06 ERA, picking up 30 saves in 42.1 innings, and striking out 40 batters. He now has over 150 saves in the NPB. He could be another name that could draw MLB interest during the winter.
A stellar July is in the books, with another month of games to still be played. With the LMB wrapped up and in their playoffs, we’ll see which players continue their dominance from July.
