For enthusiasts who closely follow the world of minor league baseball, it’s a common notion that organized baseball, particularly Major League Baseball (MLB), unofficially categorizes the Mexican League as a third Triple-A (AAA) league. This perspective, however, warrants a deeper examination. While the Mexican League operates during the summer months and features professional baseball, questions linger about whether it genuinely matches the level of AAA baseball found in the United States. This analysis delves into the quality of play within the Mexican League Baseball, comparing it to other leagues and exploring the factors that shape its unique identity in the baseball landscape.
One prevailing viewpoint suggests that the Mexican League more closely resembles the Independent-A Atlantic League. The Atlantic League, while self-proclaimed as playing at a AAA caliber, is often considered to be more aligned with the level of Double-A (AA) or even Advanced-A (A+) baseball. This comparison stems from the observation that both the Mexican League and the Atlantic League often compete for a similar pool of players. These are typically individuals who have previously been part of the MLB-affiliated minor league system but, due to performance dips or age, find themselves outside of organized baseball’s direct control.
Furthermore, both leagues serve as potential stepping stones to professional baseball opportunities in East Asian leagues, specifically in South Korea and Taiwan. While South Korea’s KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) and Japan’s NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) increasingly recruit players with AAA experience and even some MLB time, the Mexican League and Atlantic League remain significant sources of talent for these international leagues.
A key assumption often made is that the most promising young talents emerging from the Mexican League, much like those from other baseball-rich nations in the Americas (with Cuba being a notable exception), are quickly identified and signed by MLB organizations. This “talent vacuum” effect would naturally lead to a league populated more by seasoned veterans and players past their prime, rather than rising stars.
However, the notable success of Michel Abreu, a 34-year-old Cuban player, has prompted a re-evaluation of these assumptions. Abreu, after three seasons in the Mexican League, emerged as a home run leader in Japan’s NPB Pacific League. This achievement challenges the notion that the Mexican League is solely a haven for aging or less successful players and raises questions about the untapped potential within the league.
To gain a more data-driven understanding, a review of top performers in the Mexican League over recent years is essential. Examining the players who consistently ranked high in Offensive Performance System (OPS) and Earned Run Average (ERA) provides a reliable metric for evaluating offensive and pitching prowess. Coupled with an analysis of player demographics, including origin and age, this approach allows for a comparative assessment against leagues like the National League (NL) in MLB.
Analyzing the Mexican League’s OPS leaders reveals a striking trend: a significant majority are older players and not of Mexican origin. Looking at the top ten OPS performers each year from 2005 to the present, only 37% were born in Mexico. A larger contingent, 46%, hailed from other Latin American nations, including the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Players born in the United States and Canada constituted 14% of these top offensive performers. Sharnol Adriana, from Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, who played college baseball in Tennessee and built a long career in Mexico, completes this diverse list.
The age distribution of these offensive leaders further underscores the veteran presence in the Mexican League. An overwhelming 82% of the top ten OPS finishers since 2005 were aged 30 or older during their peak seasons. Only 13% were in their prime years of 26 to 29, and a mere 4% were 25 or younger. In stark contrast, the National League during a comparable period (2008-2013) showcased a much younger profile among its OPS leaders. 25% were 25 or younger, 47% were between 26 and 29, and only 28% were 30 or older. This age disparity strongly suggests that the most promising young Mexican position players are indeed being scouted and recruited by Major League organizations, leading them to pursue their careers in the United States.
Notably, only two players under the age of 26 have cracked the Mexican League’s top ten OPS rankings since 2005: Japhet Amador and Jorge Vazquez, both power-hitting first basemen who achieved this feat twice. The subsequent career trajectories of Amador and Vazquez in the U.S. provide further insights into the dynamics at play.
Japhet Amador, often listed at a towering 6’4″ and weighing over 300 lbs, possesses undeniable raw power. Despite his offensive production in the Mexican League, his lack of speed and limited defensive versatility may have hindered his appeal to MLB organizations. While questions about his listed weight persist, his physical stature and relatively low stolen base numbers (5 steals in 12 attempts in the Mexican League) point to potential limitations in a faster-paced, more athletic MLB environment. Despite impressive seasons in Mexico at ages 23 and 24, MLB opportunities remained elusive.
Jorge Vazquez, another physically imposing player at 5’11” and 250 lbs, did receive a chance to play in the U.S. at ages 28 and 29 within the New York Yankees organization. He demonstrated significant power, hitting 50 home runs in AAA, but also exhibited high strikeout rates and lower on-base percentages due to limited walks. Ultimately, the Yankees deemed his contact skills insufficient for the major league level, particularly given his age. Similar to Amador, the reasons for Vazquez’s delayed opportunity in the U.S. remain somewhat unclear.
It appears that a considerable number of Latin American players, who may not be quite at the MLB level or are aging out of AAA consideration within MLB organizations, are choosing to continue their summer careers in the Mexican League. This decision can be influenced by several factors.
Financial considerations play a role. Players with major league service time are entitled to a minimum salary in the minor leagues, which, as of 2013, was significantly higher than typical Mexican League salaries. However, for players without MLB service time, the financial compensation in the high minors may not be drastically different from what they can earn in Mexico, where the cost of living is often lower.
Beyond finances, cultural and linguistic factors are also important. For many Latin American players, the opportunity to play in a Spanish-speaking country with a culturally familiar environment is a significant draw. The Mexican League offers a professional baseball setting closer to home, potentially easing the transition and providing a more comfortable playing experience.
Furthermore, the Mexican League can offer greater career longevity. Many players in Mexico continue to play into their late 30s and even early 40s. The league’s hitter-friendly conditions, characterized by hot summer temperatures and numerous high-altitude cities, contribute to a favorable offensive environment, potentially extending the careers of power hitters.
In conclusion, while the Mexican League baseball provides a high level of professional baseball, the evidence suggests it may not consistently reach the AAA caliber found in MLB-affiliated leagues. The league attracts a diverse mix of veteran players, particularly from Latin America, and serves as an important part of the global baseball ecosystem. The influx of experienced players and the outflow of young Mexican talent shape the league’s competitive landscape and contribute to its unique standing within professional baseball.
This analysis focuses on the offensive side of the Mexican League. A subsequent analysis will explore the pitching landscape of the Mexican League.
