Brandon Valenzuela debuted, the 153rd Mexican to reach Major Leagues
Since 2015, at least one player born in Mexico has debuted every season in the Major Leagues
Mexican baseball added a new name to its recent history with the appearance of Brandon Valenzuela in the Major Leagues. The Sonoran catcher made his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in a game against the Chicago White Sox, where he made his first offensive impact from the start. At 25 years and 185 days old, the Hermosillo native earned his first start, batting ninth in the lineup. His addition to the roster came after the release of his countryman Alejandro Kirk, who was placed on the 10-day injured list. Valenzuela didn't take long to make his mark on the field. In his first at-bat, during the third inning, he singled to right field off a pitch from Davis Martin. In that play, with Andres Gimenez on base, he allowed his team to put runners on first and second with no outs. That hit made him the 153rd Mexican-born player to reach the Major Leagues. A historic debut for Hermosillo and Mexican baseball. Valenzuela's start also had special significance for his hometown. He became the second player from Hermosillo to get a hit in his first at-bat in the Majors, after Elmer Dessens. In his subsequent at-bats, the catcher failed to reach base. He struck out in the fifth inning against Davis Martin and again in the seventh inning against Bryan Hudson, in an at-bat with runners on base. Beyond the individual outcome, his presence on the field extended a consistent trend for Mexican baseball. Since 2015, at least one player born in Mexico has debuted in the Major Leagues every season, a streak that now reaches 12 consecutive years. Valenzuela is also the eleventh baseball player from Hermosillo to reach the MLB, joining a list that includes names like Erubiel Durazo, Isaac Paredes, and Luis Gonzalez, among others. His debut also had a personal component. Before the game began, The player approached his mother to give her a kiss, in a moment that marked the fulfillment of a long-sought goal. The game ended in a 3-0 defeat for Toronto, but the day was marked by the arrival of a new Mexican representative to the so-called "Big Leagues."