Cuban outfielder Orlando Martínez will play with the Tomateros de Culiacán in the 2025-2026 season of the ARCO Mexican Pacific League, in what will be his first experience in the Liga ARCO Mexicana de Béisbol. The team announced the news on its social media. This confirms what we reported on June 27 of this year.
Martínez began playing in the year playing in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB) with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes and is now with the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. At the time of leaving the LMB, Martínez was one of the best players in the circuit in his debut season ranking among the Top Ten in several areas, including leading the league in doubles with 25 and runs scored with 59.
He was also second slugging percentage (.703), fourth in hits with 81, four behind his teammate Andretty Cordero; fifth in OPS (1.122); sixth in home runs (16); thirteenth in RBIs with 48; and fourteenth in batting average (.370). He had also been invited to participate in the LMB All-Star Game, as well as in the Home Run Derby; however, his signing with the Houston Astros prevented him from participating in either the game or the derby.
With the Astros’ Double-A team, Martínez is hitting .313 (31-for-99) with four doubles and one extra-base triple. He has also stolen two bases, driven in nine runs and scored 14 times in 25 games. At 27 years of age, the Havana native is trying to climb the minor league ladder again, having previously spent six years in the Los Angeles Angels farm system, where he played at every level. With the Tomateros, he is looking to prepare himself for next year’s spring training with Houston.
LIDOM:
Dairon Blanco OF (Estrellas)
Eddy Díaz IF (Estrellas)
Andrew Pérez LHP (Licey)*
Liga ARCO:
Albert Lara IF (Culiacán)
Orlando Martínez OF (Culiacán)
Leonys Martín OF (Los Mochis)
Yoanner Negrín RHP (Los Mochis)
Yadir Drake IF-OF (Mexicali)
Odrisamer Despaigne RHP (Obregón)
Vladimir Gutierrez RHP (Obregón)
Julio Robaina LHP (Guasave)
LVBP:
Geisel Cepeda OF (La Guaira)
Rangel Ravelo IF-OF (Lara)
LBPRC:
LBPN:
Maikol Pérez OF (Chinandega)
Lázaro Blanco RHP (Chinandega)
*Cuban-American