Mexican League teams to visit Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Tucson Padres, The Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Sonora Sports Commission are bringing the Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta to Kino Stadium in October. The Naranjeros of Hermosillo, the Yaquis of Obregon and the Aguilas of Mexicali will play a Tucson team (yet to be named) on Oct 7-9, two days before the season opener of the Pacific League of Mexico, the country's most important Winter Baseball League.

The following team executives were at Kino Stadium in Tucson on Thursday to make the announcement: Naranjeros de Hermosillo general manager, Juan Aguirre, Yaquis de Obregon president, Rene Arturo Rodriguez, and Comision de Deporte en el Estado de Sonora director, Vicente Sagrestano.

The Pacific League of Mexico (Liga Mexicana del Pacifico), also referred to as the Winter League of Mexico, was founded in 1945 under the name League of the Pacific Coast. Currently this league plays from October to February, and the champion of the league plays in the renowned Caribbean Series. The league hosts several prospects of Major League Baseball, Triple-A Baseball and several players from Mexico currently play in the Major Leagues.

Information on participating teams:

Naranjeros de Hermosillo
This team, based in the capital of Sonora, has a great following and strong attendance. Former Hermosillo players include Curt Schilling, Larry Walker, Fernando Valenzuela, Erubiel Durazo and Vinny Castilla.

Yaquis de Ciudad Obregon
The team from Obregon is the current champion of the Pacific League of Mexico and also the Caribbean Series. Games between the Naranjeros and Yaquis are considered to be some of the best matches in the league, due to the long rivalry between both teams. Former Obregon players include Joakim Soria, Ed Vosberg and current Tucson Padres infielder Everth Cabrera.

Aguilas de Mexicali
The Aguilas play in the Capital of Baja California. The team has a history of playing against Tucson teams as far back as the 1950s, when it played against the Tucson Cowboys in the Arizona-Mexico League. Former Mexicali players include Mike Piazza, John Kruk and Rudy Seanez.

Details on game times, ticket prices and sponsorship opportunities will all be announced at a later date.