Mayfield grad is ‘the man’ pitching for Mexican team
Gera Sanchez’s Twitter profile pretty much says it all: “Baseball is my life.” And what a life it’s been. Sanchez, who saw the state while playing for Mayfield High School, New Mexico Junior College and UNM, has broadened his horizons since completing his Lobo career in 2012. He’s now technically pitching in Triple-A as a closer for Mexico’s Bravos de Leon.
Gabe Aguilar, another reliever from UNM’s 2012 squad, is pitching for Mexico’s Rieleros de Aguascaliente this season, as well.
It’s Sanchez’s second season in the Mexican professional league and the 28-year-old is enjoying it, even if it means living something of a vagabond lifestyle. Sanchez broke down his unusual baseball experience this week via online direct message from South of the Border.
Sanchez’s parents still live in Las Cruces, but his place of residence is a bit less stable.
“I live where baseball takes me,” Sanchez said. “Haven’t had an offseason the last two years.”
Even naming his employer is a bit more complicated than it might be for a minor league player in the United States. He was signed by Toros de Tijuana in 2015 but is currently pitching on loan with Bravos de Leon.
In winter ball, Sanchez pitched for Tomateros (Tomato Growers) de Culiacan.
Confusing? Perhaps, but Sanchez is not complaining. He’s gained popularity during an unorthodox climb through the Mexican baseball ranks.
The journey did not start in Mexico. Coming out of UNM, Sanchez signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros organization in 2012 and played two seasons in the Astros’ minor league chain. He was released prior to the 2014 campaign, and that’s when things got interesting.
Sanchez went to Mexico and was playing semi-pro ball in Chihuahua in 2015 when he pitched a no-hitter. He was invited to represent the state of Chihuahua in a national tournament, which his team won.
That led to an opportunity to play for Team Mexico in a Premier 12 tournament in Taiwan and Japan. Sanchez pitched well and Mexico finished fourth.
“I got noticed by a couple teams in the Mexican League,” Sanchez said, “and Toros de Tijuana offered me some money. I pitched there (in 2016) and had a pretty good year as the seventh-inning guy.”
Pretty good, indeed. Sanchez posted a 1.40 ERA. The righthander with a bushy beard and various arm slots was a hit with the Tijuana fans.
“Gera is the man down there,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “He fits in perfectly.”
Such is an accomplishment at a venue where the home team has four mascots (a bull, a chicken, a monkey and a lizard) and scantily clad cheerleaders performing at home games. The Toros also sport Tecate beer patches on their uniforms.
This season he’s closing for a Leon team fighting for a playoff spot and enjoying the latest chapter of his baseball adventure.
“I love it here in Mexico,” Sanchez said. “The pay is good and it’s very hard to get similar money playing minor league ball in the States. This is the big leagues of Mexico and it’s a great, tough league. I see myself playing here for a while.”