SIX LMB TEAMS AWARDED RIGHTS TO RELEASED MiLB PLAYERS

The Mexican League Assembly drew lots last Monday for the rights to six Mexican-born players who have been released by Major League Baseball organizations. The first player chosen was left-handed pitcher Luis Martinez, a Mazatlan native who turned 19 on February 5. Martinez, whose rights were assigned to Puebla, pitched eight innings for Atlanta’s Dominican Summer League team last year and posted an ERA of 3.12 with no decisions.

Catcher Rogelio del Campo, who played one game for Buffalo of the International League in 2009, was taken second by Campeche. Pitcher Juan Pablo Menchaca, who did not play organized ball last summer, was selected third by Monterrey. The Torreon native was 5-4 with a 3.76 ERA for Eugene of the Northwest League in 2008. The fourth player taken was catcher Gerard Bustamante of Nogales, who last played in the Diamondbacks organization in 2008. Bustamante’s rights were assigned to Yucatan.

The final two players picked were listed as Ivan Villaescusa and Juan Pablo Oyervides. Villaescusa, a former catcher in the Angels system who spent last year playing independent ball with Coastal Bend of the United League, was assigned to Oaxaca. Oyervides’ name was drawn by Nuevo Laredo, but no information could be found on him (although there is a pitcher named Jose Pablo Oyervides who spent a number of seasons in the Padres’ organization).