Dominican Luis Terrero wins MVP of Mexican Baseball League, Dominicano gana jugador más valioso de la Liga Mexicana de Béisbol

Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB) or the Mexican Baseball League is considered by most to be in the top 5 leagues in the world.  It is made of independent teams throughout central and eastern Mexico.  The league is endorsed and affiliated with Major League Baseball as an official minor league, however, the teams that make up the league are not affiliated with MLB teams, as are the minor league teams stateside.

This unique relationship actually means that it is probably a higher level of baseball in the Mexican League, because the teams play to win and not to develop players.  This is much as the case is with the Dominican League of Winter Baseball.  So, along with the NIPON profesional league in Japan, and the Venezuelan and Mexican winter leagues, this AAA Mexican Baseball League and the LIDOM are the of the top leagues in the world.  The Dominican Baseball Guy commented on the top baseball leagues in the world a while back.

A number of big name stars have played in the LMB towards the end of there careers, most notably in terms of Dominican players the great Julio Franco.

And, to get to the point of this blog post!  Dominican Luis Terrero was named the MVP of the Mexican Baseball League today.  Check out these silly numbers: .390 average, 38 home runs, and 110 RBI in just 97 games.  Yea, the Dominican Baseball Guy thinks the pitching down there may not be up to the level of an ex-MLB guy like Terrero.  He spent three years in the majors from 2003-07 with the Diamondbacks, Orioles, and White Sox.  See Luis Terrero minor league baseball page.

Terrero is from Barahona and Franco is from San Pedro de Macoris.

Peloterro Dominicano Luis Terrero, by javYliz on Flickr

Happy Birthday former Ranger-Met-Brave-Escogido player Julio Franco, feliz cumpleaños Dominicano Julio Franco

The Big League Stew rightfully gave big ups to one of the Dominican Baseball Guy's favorite players of all time this week, as Julio Franco turned 53 years old today.  The Dominican Baseball Guy first became a fan of Julio Franco during his early years with the Texas Rangers.  He pushed .400 one year, and was considered one of the top five players in the game during these years from 1989-1991.

He had 2,586 career hits in MLB, but had over 4,000 in his career while playing in several leagues.  He obviously spent some time in the minors as everyone does, but also played in Japan, Mexico, and in the best winter league around-the Dominican League of Winter Baseball (LIDOM) for Escogido.

Franco may be best know for his crazy over the head batting stance.  Kindred spirit of The Dominican Baseball Guy, The Batting Stance Guy, does perhaps one of his best impressions of Franco here.

After 2500 MLB games and God knows how many total games, Julio still has the hunger to be involved in the game.  Since his retirement in 2008, he has managed in the Mets minor league system as well as managing in the Venezuelan winter league.  He hopes to eventually get a big league gig as a manager for an MLB team.

Franco is from San Pedro de Macoris, the cradle of shortstops.  The Dominican Baseball Guy comments on San Pedro seemingly weekly, because the talent never stops flowing out of this baseball capital in the Dominican Republic.  See the tag for more on San Pedro de Macoris, the hometown of Alfredo Griffin, Robinson Cano, and Franco, among many more.

Happy Birthday Julio!

Julio Franco with the Atlanta Braves in 2006

Manny Acta builds baseball facilities in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris

ImpACTA Kids Foundation is a charitable organization Indians manager Manny Acta founded in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris.  This off season the organization constructed several ball fields in San Pedro.  The foundation dedicated two fields to San Pedro natives Rico Carty and Sammy Sosa.  They also built a facility that was dedicated to local hero Alfredo Griffin.  Another field is in the works that will also be donated to a local baseball hero, Julio Franco.

The Alfredo Griffin baseball facility features classrooms, computers, a library, and kitchen, along with the ballfields and training facilities.  Through the ImpACTA website, Acta said he is proud to be from the city and happy at the large number of kids that will come to the new facility and practice and learn daily.

Acta is one of many Dominican players that do charity work in their home country.  The Dominican Baseball guy recently blogged about the David Ortiz charity golf tournament that supports children's healthcare in Boston and the Dominican Republic.  The fact is the Dominican Republic is a poverty stricken nation, so projects such as this are greatly beneficial for young ball players and everyone in the country.

Acta played for six years in the Astros minor league organization, but never reached the big leagues.  He is on his second managerial job with the Indians after three years with the Nationals.

Acta will be managing Cleveland for the second year, by  Cathy T on Flickr