MLB Players: The All-Mexican Team
Fernando Valenzuela, LHP (Navojoa, Mexico)
Finally, we come to the crème de la crème, the greatest Mexican-born player of all time: “El Toro,” Fernando Valenzuela. Valenzuela took the world by storm in his rookie season in 1981 by winning both the Rookie of the Year award and the Cy Young award after posting an a13-7 record with a 2.48 ERA and 1.045 WHIP.
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From there, “FernandoMania” ensued.
In his 17-year career, Valenzuela became one of the most decorated Latino players to ever put on an MLB uniform. Aside from his ROY and CY Young, Valenzuela would be selected to SIX All-Star games, win a Gold Glove award, two Silver Slugger awards, and, most importantly, take home a World Series ring.
Though his run with the Los Angeles Dodgers was short-lived, they ended up releasing him prior to the 1992 season, he attempted to pitch for the California Angels and the Detroit Tigers before ultimately agreeing to play for Jalisco of the Mexican League.
Valenzuela would choose not to pitch at all in 1992, eventually making a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles in 1993. He was never the same, however.
In all, Fernando Valenzuela did enough to establish him as the best Mexican-born player of all time. He leads all Mexican players in bWAR with 40.9 and fWAR with 37.4. His 39.1 aWAR, ranks him first on this list.