When one thinks of countries outside the United States with a rather distinct baseball pedigree, many come to mind. The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Curaçao, Japan, and many, many others. The one we’re here to discuss today is Mexico, a nation that has produced the seventh highest WAR in big league history. Indeed, many excellent players have been born there. Some of the more familiar names that will not be on today’s list are Vinny Castilla, Joakim Soria, Julio Urías, Yovani Gallardo, and Jaime García. No, today we will be discussing Mexico’s best baseball players as it relates to their WAR totals on Baseball Reference. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Mexico’s Best Baseball Players
Esteban Loaiza, WAR: 22.73
If there’s a word that could be used to describe Esteban Loaiza’s career, it would be inconsistent. So, this writer has no doubts that there’s some confusion here. The question of how Loaiza is one of Mexico’s best baseball players is an honest and absolutely relevant one. But the facts are the facts. Over a 14-year career, Loaiza managed 126 wins and nearly 1,400 strikeouts. He had stints with eight different teams, most notably the Chicago White Sox. In 2003, he broke out in a big way, winning 21 games with a 2.90 ERA and a league best 207 strikeouts. He finished second in Cy Young Award voting as well. One more interesting tidbit is that, in mid-2000, he was part of a trade that sent Michael Young from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Texas Rangers.
Ismael Valdéz, WAR: 24.13
Much like Loaiza, Ismael Valdéz had a roller coaster career, playing for seven franchises. However, he managed a lot of success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the mid-1990s. During his time with the team, he won 61 games with a respectable 3.48 ERA. In 1997, he posted a 2.65 ERA and a 146 ERA+. He was never the same after leaving the Dodgers, though. He did manage a 14-win campaign between the San Diego Padres and Florida Marlins in 2004. However, his ERA was an ugly 5.19. He will best be remembered for his time in Los Angeles and for playing long enough to produce a WAR that just barely puts him on this list.
Bobby Avila, WAR: 28.42
Our first, and only, offensive player on this list, Bobby Avila experienced the majority of his success in his decade with the Cleveland Indians. He made three All-Star Appearances and won the 1954 American League Batting Title (.341). His WAR marks with Cleveland are higher than the likes of Francisco Lindor, Albert Belle, Travis Hafner, and Roberto Alomar. He ranks in the top 20 in franchise history for runs scored (688), hits (1,236), and walks (527). Among his countrymen, he’s fourth in hits, doubles, and RBI and third in runs scored and triples. While his final season saw him bounce around between three different teams, his legacy will always remain in Cleveland. It also makes him one of Mexico’s best baseball players.
Teddy Higuera, WAR: 30.32
Teddy Higuera only played for nine seasons, all with the Milwaukee Brewers. However, a four-year stretch between his rookie year of 1985 and 1988 helped cement his spot here. He started by finishing runner-up to Ozzie Guillen in Rookie of the Year voting. In 1986, he followed by making his only career All-Star appearance and racking up 20 victories with a sparkling 2.79 ERA. He finished second in Cy Young voting. Over the next two seasons, his production slipped ever so slightly. That said, he did still manage to combine for 34 wins and, in 1987, he struck out a career best 240 batters. Sadly, injuries took their toll, and he was never quite the same after the ’88 campaign. But, for four years, Higuera could match wits with the best pitchers in baseball and come out on top.
Fernando Valenzuela, WAR: 41.42
Our top spot in the search for Mexico’s best baseball players is occupied by a man who was the veritable face of the Dodgers throughout the 1980s. Indeed, Fernando Valenzuela exploded onto the scene in 1981. In the strike shortened season, he posted a 2.48 ERA with a league best 11 complete games, eight shutouts, and 180 strikeouts. He took home both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award honors. The next season, he won 19 games with a 2.87 ERA. Overall, he won 141 games in 11 seasons with the Dodgers while posting over 1,700 strikeouts and hurling 107 complete games. Though his later career was nowhere near as successful, he did manage to put together a 17-year run with over 2,900 innings pitched and over 2,000 strikeouts.
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