Diamondbacks, Mexican League build enduring relationship
By Jose M. Romero
Four representatives of teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico, a top baseball league in Mexico, flanked Arizona Diamondbacks president and chief executive officer Derrick Hall on a dais one July afternoon at Chase Field.
They gathered in an interview room between the clubhouses to talk to media members about the continuing relationship between the D-Backs and the LMP.
“It’s pretty unusual,” Hall said of a Major League Baseball club building a bond with a league of foreign baseball teams. “I think it just goes to show that we’ve worked on these relationships with the league and with the individual teams. As long as we can keep helping each other out, baseball is going to grow globally.”
A Meaningful Collaboration
The Diamondbacks might not be the only MLB club to have invited Mexican baseball teams to take part in celebrations of Hispanic Heritage, but they appear to be the most active in doing so. Every LMP club is expected to be represented on Sept. 8, the day the Diamondbacks hold their annual Hispanic Heritage celebration.
It might seem more of a business and marketing partnership than one of player development, but only for now.
“Our commitment to Mexico is only going to grow,” Hall said. “We’re still looking for that Mexican-born player to come here and make such an impact.”
A League Apart
Given that Major League Baseball recently sent a letter to its teams ordering an end to the way in which teams in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol directly negotiate the sale of players to MLB organizations —citing fraud and corruption— the Diamondbacks’ welcome of Mexican teams might seem in contradiction to such a policy.
But the LMP is a different league than the one MLB is referring to. The Liga del Pacifico has just eight teams and a three-month season from October to January, whereas the larger Liga Mexicana plays on a calendar similar to MLB’s.
The Pacific League is also an independent league of teams in smaller markets; with its regional ties to the southwestern United States., the Diamondbacks three years ago decided to develop a stronger connection.
“The Mexican League is more focused on developing players, where the Mexican Pacific League is a show. We do baseball, we’re not developing players,” said Juan Aguirre, general manager of the Hermosillo Naranjeros.
Mexican Dealings
Though not the focus of the Diamondbacks’ efforts in Mexico, Hall hopes MLB will change its course on not dealing with the LMB.
“The league office is trying to find a solution, and they’ve been able to do so with Japan, they’re working on one with Korea,” Hall said. “It’s a top priority. So I expect to see a solution soon. I’m very hopeful.
“You’re starting to see more and more talent coming from Mexico again,” Hall added. “(Scouting) has been a top priority of ours, it continues to be. We (MLB clubs) have a responsibility to make sure that we as teams can send some of our top prospects over to the league to play there as well. So it goes both ways.”
The Diamondbacks have history with Mexico. They have played exhibition games in the northern state of Sonora, sent a delegation to that state for baseball, tourism and economy summits and hosted Mexican players and teams at their spring training headquarters. Former D-back and Sonora native Erubiel Durazo has an advisory role in the Arizona front office, and the club actively markets its product to Mexican and Spanish-speaking fans in one of America’s largest metropolitan areas.
“I always raise my hand when they (MLB international committee) ask who wants to play in Mexico,” Hall said. “I think we’ll be there soon, and I would not be surprised if maybe this next year, we’ll be playing there again.”
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
The LMP and its clubs will have a role at one of the highest attended games of every season at Chase Field before and during the Sept. 8 game against the Atlanta Braves. Given the proximity of the Valley of the Sun to northwestern Mexico baseball towns like Hermosillo, Ciudad Obregón, Navojoa and Mexicali, the Diamondbacks have found that reaching out to those clubs helps their large Mexican fan base further relate to and appreciate the MLB club.
“There’s so many fans here in Arizona that are fans of the league, as well as so many fans in Mexico that have become fans of the Diamondbacks,” Hall said. “It’s a great cross-promotion for us. But the fact that we can bring exposure to these great brands, to their teams and to their executives, it’s a perfect platform for that.”
A drive around the greater Phoenix area on any given day reveals evidence of LMP support, with vehicles bearing window stickers of their favorite teams.
“In my personal opinion, the Diamondbacks have the highest profile among the teams of the Mexican Pacific League,” said Lucio Toledo, vice president of the Mazatlan Venados. “It’s natural for us to participate with them and it’s an honor to be asked to be part of Hispanic Heritage Day.”
What this amicable venture means going forward as far as player development and signings is still a gray area, but if nothing else the Diamondbacks could end up being the standard-bearers for a new approach to MLB’s dealings with baseball in Mexico.
“I feel like they’re family,” Hall said, “and as long as we have that approach, we’ll continue to grow this program and others. It’s something that every team should do. We should want to attract all fans from every country. But in particular for us, it’s always going to be a priority as long as I’m here.”
Featured Image: Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport