Who’s Next: The New Mexican Heat
By César Augusto Márquez
There’s more to baseball talent in Latin America than the guys coming out of the Caribbean. Thanks toToronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna and Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Julio Urías, Mexico is seeing a new generation with superstar potential.
San Diego Padres rookie third baseman Christian Villanueva is headed to the Mexico Series in Monterrey with one of the hottest bats in the major leagues. After 24 games, he’s hitting .317/.404/.707 with nine home runs. And that’s just the tip of the pipeline. Coming through are two shortstops, an outfielder and two pitchers, including an 18-year-old who already throws 95 mph and a reliever with a scorching 98-mph fastball. In a country known for its jalapeño peppers, there’s plenty of heat.
Luis Urías
Infielder, San Diego Padres
Born June 3, 1997, in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico
Baseball America’s second-ranked prospect at second base, Luis Urías is considered an even better shortstop. He’ll play in the major leagues sometime soon somewhere in the infield because he can also hit. The 5-foot-9 Urías won the high Class-A California League batting title and MVP award in 2016 at age 19. And last year, he was the youngest player to open the Double-A Texas League, hitting .296/.398/.380 with 20 doubles.
Currently with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, Urías is doing even better, hitting .312/.430/.442 through 20 games. What’s missing is raw power. But scouts love his moxie and instincts.
“Urías has become a very good defensive player and shows great discipline at the plate. Because he’ll end up playing at Petco Park, his lack of power might actually help him because he loves to spray the ball to all fields,” said a scout for a NL West Division team.
Álex Verdugo
Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
Born May 15, 1996, in Tucson, Arizona
MLB Pipeline’s 30th-ranked prospect, Álex Verdugo is back with the Dodgers after an April 28 callup. Born on the north side of the Río Grande, Verdugo played for Mexico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic, hitting 5-for-14 in three games.
Nicknamed “Dugie,” Verdugo is a solidly-built 6-footer with sweet left-hand stroke that generates line drive after line drive. The Dodgers love his arm and competitive streak. The 21-year-old Verdugo has been among the youngest players at every level since he was drafted out of high school in the second round in 2014. And other than his 15-game debut in the major leagues last season, he’s always looked good and ready. The one thing the Dodgers may try to tweak is Verdugo’s launch angle, hoping to produce more home runs.
“What I like about Verdugo is not what he’s done, but his potential. He’s a very young player who should develop power. He has the skills and arm to play regularly in the major leagues,” said a scout who worked for the Dodgers in 2014.
Isaac Paredes
Shortstop, Detroit Tigers
Born February 18, 1999, in Hermosillo, México
Young and stocky, Isaac Paredes has tattooed the Major League Baseball logo on his right wrist to remind him of his lifelong dream. Acquired last July along with third baseman Jeimer Candelario in a trade that sent major leaguers Álex Ávila and Justin Wilson to the Chicago Cubs, the Tigers believe Paredes’ drive and determination will help the team rebuild quickly over the next couple of seasons.
Five-foot-11 and 225 pounds, the 19-year-old Paredes is nimble for his size. While some scouts project him as a future third baseman, Paredes stands out defensively for his above-average arm and soft hands.
And don’t let his batting average fool you. He has pop and plate discipline, a batter who works the count and gets bases on balls. Paredes is hitting .260/.366/.481 with 15 RBI through 22 games with the high Class-A Lakeland (Fla.) Flying Tigers.
“When we traded for him, it was because we think that he will be playing in the major leagues by 2020,” said a team executive who requested anonymity.
Florencio Serrano
Right-handed pitcher, Chicago Cubs
Born February 23, 2000, in Corpus Christi, Texas
The Cubs signed him for $1.2 million, which tells you how much this 18-year-old excites talent evaluators. A slender 6-foot-1 right-hander, Florencio Serrano can already sling it at 95 mph. He complements the heat with killer curves and deceptive changeups. That’s a starter’s repertoire, but don’t be surprise if he ends up arriving at the major leagues ahead of schedule as a reliever because of his fastball.
Though born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Serrano is puro mexicano, raised by immigrant parents who returned home in 2016 after Serrano’s freshman year at Robstown High School. In fact, Serrano is a seasoned pro, having pitched for the Triple-A Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
“Serrano’s road to the majors may take some time, but he has a very promising future. There are few pitchers his age who can throw as hard and throw curves as sharply as he does,” said a scout who followed Serrano last year until he signed with the Cubs.
Víctor Arano
Right-handed pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
Born February 7, 1995, in Cosamaloapan, Veracruz, Mexico
While Víctor Arano debuted last year with the Phillies—pitching in 10 games and striking out 13 in 10.2 innings—he’s still officially a 23-year-old rookie, albeit a promising one who looked even better this season until a strained right rotator cuff sent him to the disabled list on Monday.
In the 10 games and 12.0 innings before the injury, Arano struck out 13 and allowed one measly run. At one point, he had a streak of 32 consecutive batters retired dating back to last season.
While admittedly a small sample at the major league level, the 6-foot-2 Arano is considered the real deal because of his great control in the minor leagues. Over 377.2 innings, he struck out 334 and walked 89 while giving up only 35 home runs.
In short, Arano is a fearless flamethrower, topping 98 mph with his four-seam fastball. He also throws a two-seamer and a slider, moving the ball side to side and getting batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone. In today’s Statcast world, that makes him the ideal pitcher. And the Phillies’ new favorite reliever.
Featured Image: Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport