02.12.25 |

Bryan Lara Joins a Historic Line of Mexican Dodgers

The Dodgers and Mexican baseball players go way back. This is not something new, and the arrival of Bryan Lara is just the latest chapter in a long history. Over the years, many players from Mexico have worn the Dodgers jersey, each leaving their own mark on the team.

The story starts in 1939 with Baldomero “Melo” Almada. Born in Huatabampo, Sonora, Almada was the first Mexican player to join the Dodgers. He played as an outfielder and set the stage for many more to come.

Then came Fernando Valenzuela. If you’re familiar with baseball and Mexico, you’ve definitely heard of him. Back in the 1980s, he became a superstar with his incredible pitching skills. Fans were swept up in what was called “Fernandomania” because of how much they loved him. He didn’t just shine on the field—he created a bond between Mexico and the U.S. through the Dodgers like never before. His success boosted the team’s popularity in Mexico, and ever since, Mexican players have played an essential role in the Dodgers’ story.

After Valenzuela, more and more Mexican players joined the team. Some of the most famous names include Julio Urías from Culiacán, Sinaloa, who helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series, and Víctor González from Tuxpan, Nayarit, who also played a big role in that championship season. Both of them proved that Mexican pitchers could still dominate in the Major Leagues.

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Now, the spotlight is on Bryan Lara. At just 16, he’s already gaining recognition. Hailing from Guanajuato, he’s got a fastball that can hit 92 mph. Scouts believe he has the potential to be a major player in the years to come. Before he makes it to the big leagues, he’ll be training in the Dominican Republic to enhance his skills. If all goes well, we might just see him taking the mound at Dodger Stadium in the near future.

Here’s a look at some of the Mexican-born players who have worn the Dodgers uniform:

Baldomero “Melo” Almada (1939) – Huatabampo, Sonora
Vicente “El Huevo” Romo (1968) – Santa Rosalía, Baja California
Sergio Robles (1968) – Magdalena de Kino, Sonora
José Peña (1970) – Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
Fernando Valenzuela (1980) – Etchohuaquila, Sonora
Jorge Orta (1982) – Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Alex Treviño (1986) – Monterrey, Nuevo León
Noé Muñoz (1990) – Ecatepec, Estado de México
Ismael Valdez (1994) – Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas
Juan Castro (1995) – Los Mochis, Sinaloa
Antonio Osuna (1995) – Guasave, Sinaloa
Karim García (1995) – Ciudad Obregón, Sonora
Dennys Reyes (1997) – Higuera de Zaragoza, Sinaloa
Víctor Álvarez (2002) – Culiacán, Sinaloa
Elmer Dessens (2004) – Hermosillo, Sonora
Óscar Robles (2005) – Tijuana, Baja California
Esteban Loaiza (2007) – Tijuana, Baja California
Luis Alfonso Cruz (2012) – Navojoa, Sonora
Julio Urías (2016) – Culiacán, Sinaloa
Víctor González (2019) – Tuxpan, Nayarit

Players with Mexican Roots

Adrián González (2012) – San Diego, California
Alex Verdugo (2017) – Tucson, Arizona
Austin Barnes (2015) – Riverside, California