Former Mets player Robinson Cano is putting up Ted Williams wiffle ball numbers in Mexico

At any level and any age, these numbers are ridiculous.

Mar 14, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Dominican Republic first baseman Robinson Cano (24) hits an RBI single during the seventh inning against Israel at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Dominican Republic first baseman Robinson Cano (24) hits an RBI single during the seventh inning against Israel at LoanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Someone tell Robinson Cano he’s 41 and it’s okay to relax already. This is probably how most of the pitchers on other teams are feeling in the Mexican League where Cano is spending his 2024 season. The former New York Mets second baseman last played in Major League Baseball back in 2022 where he’d hit under .200 for three different clubs.

The level of competition in the Mexican League is obviously not on-par with what it is in MLB. After 314 plate appearances, Cano has put together a slash line only Ted Williams in a wiffle ball game might be able to achieve. He’s slashing .446/.490/.674 with 14 home runs and 68 RBI. Somehow, he has managed to go down on strikes 38 times.

Robinson Cano is on fire for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico and so is the team

These aren’t hollow numbers Cano is putting up. The Diablos Rojos del Mexico are 63-16. They lead the Sur Division by 19 games over the Leones de Yucatan and Conspiradores de Queretaro who sit at 40-31 and 42-33 respectively. The Sultanes de Monterrey over in the Norte Division have the second-best record at 47-31. The last team in their 10-team division is 19 games back. The poor 21-56 Tigres de Quintana Roo sit way back at 41 games behind Cano’s club.

Despite the close proximity to the United States, the Mexican League generally doesn’t get much attention. This team is a little different. Their 16 championships in the nearly 100-years of existence of the league leads all teams. Add in their 17 losses in the championship round and it’s safe to call them the New York Yankees of Mexico. They haven’t won since 2014 but this year’s club seems unstoppable with Cano and a few other recognizable ex-MLB players.

This is the same team that has Trevor Bauer on its roster who at 10-0 with a 1.78 ERA is doing things on the mound Cano has done at the plate. Some former Mets have joined Cano this season. Alex Claudio and Jimmy Yacabonis have made appearances. So has Jeurys Familia. Patrick Mazeika has even found his way there. He’s hitting .308 in 30 trips to the plate.

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