Mexico City Season Preview

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MEXICO CITY - Fans in Mexico City are anxiously awaiting the return of the Aztecs from the team's training facility in Cancun. Shut out of the limited free agent market and Santo Domingo's fire sale, the Aztecs emphasized defense and versatility this offseason. As with most Aztecs teams, pitching will be their strength while searching for baserunners their weakness. Players to watch include:

Tolentino Goulart - SP -  Standing at 6'7", Goulart anchors the Aztecs' rotation, he's an innings eater and strikeout beast. Has led the league in Innings Pitched two years running and finished 3rd in 2109 Pitcher of the Year voting. Goulart leads a young but talented rotation which features four other pitchers with less than 5 years service time - Michalis, Manual, Cole, and Tuomico. Michalis, Manual and Cole are all products of the Aztecs organization.

Bob Poole - CL - Dominant 5 star lefty closer was reliever of the year in 2109 and will anchor the Aztecs bullpen.

Pat Hardy - RP - Hardy was brought in this offseason from Santo Domingo via Singapore to fortify the bullpen. Naturally a closer, this 4.5 star potential right hander has had no adjustment working outside of the 9th inning this spring.

Rafael Baca - CF - the leagues' 2110 #7 rated prospect, Baca will start in centerfield and should quickly establish himself as one of the leagues best defensive outfielders and base stealers this season. The Aztecs believe that this defensive improvement could yield immediate dividends in their wide open outfield.

Serge Woschinin - 2b - Serge was included in the Jorge Romano trade as an a middling but athletic outfielder. The Aztecs quickly spotted his 5 star potential as a second baseman and he proved to be defensively dominant there this spring landing at a 7 rating in a few short weeks. Will anchor the middle of the infield with star SS slugger Ramon Montes.

The lineup will be further fortified by the "Longball Lopez brothers" - 2109 league ROY catcher Hector Lopez and Ivan Lopez in RF.

Results could be highly variable as the Aztecs again field a very young team with high potential. The Aztecs are often overlooked in a league with highly talented veteran organizations but hope to provide some surprises in 2110.