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Michel Baez Signs With Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey

By Nick Deeds | February 22, 2025 at 7:51pm CDT

Right-hander Michel Baez has signed with the Mexican League’s Sultanes de Monterrey, according to a report from Francys Romero. It will be Baez’s second stint with the club, as he pitched for Monterrey during the 2024 season as well.

Baez, 29, signed with the Padres out of Cuba prior to the 2017 season and quickly became a consensus top-50 prospect in the sport. He made his major league debut in 2019 and posted some impressive numbers out of the gate, as he pitched to a 3.03 ERA (139 ERA+) despite a 21.4% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate that led to a 4.36 FIP in 29 2/3 innings of work. Despite those potential red flags in Baez’s peripherals, his move to the bullpen ahead of his big league debut appeared to be a resounding success, and the right-hander figured to be a key part of San Diego’s bullpen mix for years to come.

Unfortunately, that’s not how things turned out. Baez would appear in just five more MLB games after 2019, three of which came during the shortened 2020 season. The right-hander was then sidelined by Tommy John surgery in 2021 and didn’t return to the big leagues until the following year, when he made two brief appearances with the Padres. Baez was designated for assignment prior to Opening Day 2023 and was outrighted to the minors shortly thereafter. He spent the entire 2023 season in the Padres’ minor league system before being released that December.

While injuries such as his aforementioned Tommy John surgery surely played a role in Baez’s struggles, it’s worth noting that the right-hander did not have much success even in the upper levels of the minors during his final seasons in affiliated ball. The righty pitched to an 8.44 ERA in 24 appearances at Triple-A back in 2022, and the 2023 campaign saw him post a 7.90 ERA at Triple-A and identical 6.75 figures at both the Double-A and High-A levels. Those brutal results were paired with lackluster peripherals, as in 2023 Baez walked 13.4% of his opponents while striking out just 17.4% throughout all levels of the minors.

Baez’s struggles in affiliated ball led him to participate in the Mexican League last year, but his first stint with Monterrey did not go especially well. The right-hander made just seven appearances with six innings of work in total, but he was shelled to the tune of a 7.50 ERA with four walks and a hit batter against five strikeouts. The club, which featured former big leaguers such as Nomar Mazara and Christian Villanueva in 2024, is surely hoping for better results from Baez this season. The right-hander is still in his 20s and has some previous big league success under his belt, so it’s certainly not impossible to imagine him fashioning himself into a useful pitcher for the Sultanes and perhaps even getting another shot in affiliated ball at some point in the future.

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Mexican League Transactions Michel Baez

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13 Comments

  1. Rsox

    8 months ago

    List of former (somewhat) notable MLB players on Mexican League Rosters
    Didi Gregorius
    Jonathan Schoop
    Greg Bird
    Aaron Altherr
    Daniel Palka
    Jonathan Villar
    Hector Santiago
    Addison Russell
    Roberto Perez
    Felix Doubront
    Nick Williams
    Andrelton Simmons
    Mallex Smith
    Oswaldo Arcia
    Lewis Brinson
    Fernando Abad
    Ian Kroll
    Renato Nunez
    Jenrry Mejia
    Julio Teheran
    Ramiro Pena
    Richard Rodriguez
    Nomar Mazara
    Freddy Galvis
    Kennys Vargas
    Drew Hutchison
    David Hernandez
    Keone Kela
    Emilio Bonifacio
    Bobby Bradley
    Kelvin Gutierrez
    Leonys Martin
    Alex Claudio
    Robinson Cano
    Dan Straily
    Rio Ruiz
    Aristides Aquino
    Jose Pirela
    Yangervis Solarte
    Esmil Rogers
    Danny Santana
    Alexi Amarista
    Yonathan Daza
    Adeiny Hechevarria
    Yairo Munoz
    Jose Peraza
    Arodys Vizcaino
    Carlos Martinez
    Ariel Miranda
    Luke Voit
    Ruben Tejada
    Fernando Salas
    Peter O’Brien
    Chris Carter
    Hanser Alberto
    Delino DeShields Jr.

    10
    Reply
    • mlb1225

      8 months ago

      Do I spot Peter “Rave Reviews” O’Brien in that list?

      Reply
      • Rsox

        8 months ago

        You do!

        1
        Reply
    • Rsox

      8 months ago

      Bauer is going back to Japan

      Reply
    • UKPhil

      8 months ago

      I’d like to congratulate Lewis Brinson on going so long without getting a regular job. Looking at his Mexican League numbers, perhaps that time has come

      Reply
    • Steinbrenner2728

      8 months ago

      Crikes, what a bad take, just give it up Already.

      1
      Reply
  2. jdgoat

    8 months ago

    The Padres had such a stockpile of high upside starting pitchers for years and pretty much all busted relative to expectations.

    Baez, Lucchesi, Lauer, Paddack, Weathers, Morejon, Allen, Espinoza, Quantrill.

    Even Mackenzie Gore hasn’t been as good (so far) as he should be.

    2
    Reply
    • Longtimecoming

      8 months ago

      I was thinking the same thing Goat. I started going to Peoria in 2018. Ironically, Baez was my kids first autograph!

      They had a few high upside relievers too – Miguel Diaz comes to mind. Add in Urias, Frankie and a few other position players from that era and well, prices the adage “prospects are suspects”.

      1
      Reply
    • Longtimecoming

      8 months ago

      Patino too.

      2
      Reply
    • James Midway

      8 months ago

      Morejon is still in the bullpen and had a good year last year. Quantrill is a serviceable 4-5. The rest didn’t blow the barn doors off. But to be fair the top 100 is always ripe with big promise but only delivers for a few.

      1
      Reply
    • Moff_Nick

      8 months ago

      Tbf at least half the pitchers listed were high floor low ceiling guys at best.

      Reply
  3. Dumpster Divin Theo

    8 months ago

    This Mexican side can swat the ball some. You might say they the Sultanes de Swing.

    Reply
  4. James Midway

    8 months ago

    I wish him luck. I wish it had worked out up here. Hopefully he can put it together in Mexico.

    1
    Reply

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