Durazo, Gonzalez involved in Diamondbacks partnership with Mexican Pacific League team
Jan 30, 2016, 11:04 AM | Updated: 12:06 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks are making international MLB history via its new partnership with the Hermosillo Naranjeros from Sonora.
Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall announced at a press conference on Jan. 8 that the D-backs and the Naranjeros will have a partnership where it will look to exchange players back and forth.
“I’ve said for many years that what I dream of for the Diamondbacks is to have a Mexican-born superstar on our roster, but more importantly, I want one from Sonora,” Hall said at the press conference via dbacks.com. “So we are signing a partnership where we will send our players to the Naranjeros so that they can be part of your community. We want to make sure we have Diamondbacks playing for the Naranjeros and one day, we have Sonorans playing for the Diamondbacks.”
Former D-backs first baseman Erubiel Durazo will be leading the project from Hermosillo and is a Sonora native. Latin America coordinator Francisco Cartaya and Mexico-based scout Rodrigo “Chapo” Aguirre will also be with Durazo.
“This relationship has gotten stronger and stronger with each visit,” Naranjeros owner Enrique Mazon said.
The Naranjeros have won 16 league titles and former players include Larry Walker, Durazo, Vinny Castilla and Curt Schilling.
Durazo and former D-backs great Luis Gonzalez will be hosting clinics in Hermosillo. Gonzalez is currently a special assistant to the CEO & owner of the D-backs and Durazo joined the team in January as a special advisor to Hall.
The club wants to open a formal training academy in Hermosillo.
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