By Janina Nuno Rios and Angelica Medina
MEXICO CITY, April 25 (Reuters) – Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas said bringing MLB to Mexico is vital to growing the game globally, as his side fell 6-4 to the San Diego Padres in the opening game of their Mexico City series on Saturday.
The Padres rallied from four runs down at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, scoring four times in the seventh inning before Ty France added his second home run of the game in the ninth to seal the win and lift the team to the top of the National League West.
Arizona had taken control early, with Thomas, who has represented Mexico at the World Baseball Classic through his mother’s side, launching a two-run homer as part of a four-run lead.
“It’s definitely important,” Thomas told reporters on Saturday. “Getting the game all across the world is a big part of what MLB is trying to do… so everybody can see some of the best players in the world.”
He described a strong connection with local fans throughout the build-up, saying representing Mexico had deepened that bond.
“There’s been a lot of people that came up to me,” he said. “I feel like the Mexican fan base has always been very supportive.
“It’s an honour to represent Mexico and my mom’s side of the family,” he said. “After those games, the hugs were a little bit tighter… you could see how proud they were.”
With both his parents in attendance for the series in the Mexican capital, Thomas called the experience “really special” for him and his family.
TATIS JR. PRAISES DOMESTIC BASEBALL
San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. pointed to the rapid development of Mexican baseball, noting the rising quality of the domestic summer league, where his father Fernando Tatis Sr. is currently managing the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.
“It’s very nice to see the quality of baseball being played here,” Tatis Jr. said. “It’s a league that’s growing… you can see the investment and the work that’s being put in.”
Teammate and fellow Dominican Manny Machado said Latin American fans change the game entirely.
“Latinos play the game differently… and a big part of that is the fans,” Machado said. “They give us energy. You’re going to see that here again.”
The sold-out crowd in Mexico City underscored that enthusiasm, reinforcing the country’s importance in MLB’s international expansion push as the two teams prepare to meet again on Sunday.
“That was an awesome experience, having the big crowd behind us like that,” Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets said.
“This whole weekend has been an awesome experience. We can definitely feed off that energy. If we can stay in games and have a shot, we can do it all year.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Toby Davis and Edwina Gibbs)
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