BBM Winter Awards LMP MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Justin Christian, Los Mochis Caneros

Not a lot was expected out of Justin Christian when he came to Los Mochis last October. Yes, the 30-year-old Nebraskan had carved a niche over eight seasons in the Yankees system as a guy who could play all three outfield positions and second base while adding speed to the lineup, but nobody expected him to become the impact player he was for the Caneros. And was he ever an impact player!

Christian ended up hitting .356 for the Caneros to finish third in the Mexican Pacific League batting title chase while leading the Mex Pac with 60 runs scored and 24 stolen bases, tying for the lead with a .452 on-base percentage and even finishing fourth in the circuit with a .561 slugging percentage. Batting leadoff, Christian served as a catalyst for a potent Mochis offense that featured power hitters Sandy Madera and Ramon Orantes, who saw a lot of fastballs at the plate because pitchers had to respect Christian’s presence on the basepaths as the Caneros finished near the top of the league in homers, steals, batting and runs.

Despite hitting just .190 in the playoffs for Mochis, Christian was added to the Obregon roster in the Caribbean Series, where he hit .259 and tied with Caguas’ Alex Cora for the lead in runs scored with seven. He signed a free agent minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on February 6 for his efforts.

SATURDAY'S BBM WINTER AWARD: LMP All-Star Team

YAQUIS FALL BEHIND EARLY, LOSE 7-3 TO CAGUAS

The Obregon Yaquis started out five runs behind and never caught up as the Mexican Pacific League champions fell, 7-3, Thursday night to the host Caguas Criollos in Caribbean Series action at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Caguas gave their starting pitcher Dylan Owen an early cushion by posting five first-inning runs before Obregon had a chance to bat, chasing Yaquis starter Rolando Valdez in the process. Karim Garcia put Obregon on the board with an RBI single in the first and the Mexican champions scored two more times when Criollos third sacker Rey Navarro misplayed a Murillo grounder into a two-run fielding error.

However, the Puerto Rican pennant winners replied with single runs in the fifth and sixth off Obregon reliever Dan Serafini to make it a 7-3 Caguas advantage they would hold the rest of the game. Juan Padilla got the win for Caguas with four shutout innings in relief while Rolando Valdez took the loss. The Yaquis had 12 hits as Justin Christian (pictured) went 3-for-5, but were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Earlier Thursday, Dominican champs Este held off Venezuelan kingpins Anzoategui, 7-5. Kevin Barker cracked a double and homer to drive in three runs for the Toros, who touched up Caribes starter Amaury Sanit for three runs in as many innings en route to a 6-3 lead. Anzoategui made it a one-run game in the top of the ninth on Jackson Melian’s two-run homer, but Este reliever Julion Manon induced a Luis Nunez groundout to shortstop to end the game. All four teams are now 1-1 in the CS.

Obregon will complete the first half of their double round-robin schedule Friday with a 3PM ET contest against Anzoategui.

OBREGON LOADS ROSTER WITH REINFORCEMENTS FOR SERIE DEL CARIBE

The Obregon Yaquis have added several players from other Mexican Pacific League teams in preparation for this week’s Caribbean Series in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. In all, 12 players are being added to the Tribe’s roster prior to the team’s departure from Mexico on Tuesday.

Manager Eddie Diaz is bringing in six players from the Guasave Algodoneros, whom Obregon defeated in seven games in the MexPac finals: Pitchers Daniel Guerrero, Alan Guerrero and Adrian Ramirez, catcher Gabriel Gutierrez, second baseman Jose Rodriguez and outfielder Leo Heras. Joining the Yaquis from Los Mochis will be pitchers Alberto Castillo and Dan Serafini along with outfielder Justin Christian (pictured), while Culiacan first baseman Jorge Vazquez, Mexicali third baseman Oscar Robles and Hermosillo outfielder Karim Garcia are also making the trip.

The four national champions converging on Mayaguez have now been determined. Along with the Yaquis, Dominican pennant winners Este Toros and Puerto Rican titlists Caguas Criollos, the Anzoategui Caribes will be on hand to represent Venezuela after outlasting the Aragua Tigres, 7-6, Sunday in the seventh and deciding game of their league championship series.

Obregon plays Este at 3 ET in Wednesday in the CS opener, followed by a Caguas-Caribes contest.