TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Officials are preparing to welcome a professional baseball team to the Old Pueblo.
Earlier this month, the Los Mayos De Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific League announced a move to Tucson.
The team will be called the Tucson Baseball Team, for now, and will play at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
While there is still limited information on the next steps, 13 News is learning more about how the move happened.
Mexican Baseball Fiesta CEO Frank Gamez said they’ve been building the roadmap for 13 years, since the invention of the fiesta.
Tucson has a long, rich baseball history. Minor league teams like the Toros, Sidewinders, and Padres have played here. Tucson hosted spring training games for the Indians, White Sox, Rockies, and Diamondbacks. Tucson currently has an independent team in the Saguaros, and you can’t discount the University of Arizona baseball team and its four national titles.
Gamez said the biggest hurdle for fans when the minor league teams played here was the constant change in talent.
“We had great years with the Toros. We would have a seven-game winning streak, then we have a completely different lineup, because that’s the product working for a minor league team,” Gamez said.
The much-needed stability is something he said Los Mayos De Navojoa will bring to Kino. He said the team and owners are dedicated to keeping the brand and players in Tucson for the community to get behind.
“This is truly for Tucsonans, for the city of Tucson, to really get that professional baseball back. To root for their team,” he said. “The team is here to stay. There is no other interest elsewhere. The owners will live in Tucson. We’re here to make it the Tucson team.”
Gamez said the level of competition in the Mexican Pacific League is something they know will draw fans, thanks to the track record with the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.
“I think the fiesta has been a good taste of it, but the name has been a ‘fiesta’. This is baseball. This is the highest level of baseball that we have to offer. It’s considered triple-A, and again, it’s the third most watched league in the world,” Games said.
While some Tucsonans might be yearning for an MLB-affiliated team, Gamez said the momentum built through the Fiesta and World Baseball Classic qualifiers can help attract more MLB action in the offseason.
“With this winter (season), everything that we’re going to do continues to leave it open for spring training for that baseball era that we have,” he said. “Having the team here makes it even more attractive for MLB to come back to Tucson.”
The biggest key will be getting fans engaged, something he said they are already strategizing by letting Tucsonans choose the team name. It is a process they are focusing on to make this team another cornerstone of Tucson sports.
“We want to bring everyone in. Do you like baseball? Do you like concerts? Like have a little bit of everyone to bring in, but also have that be something that stays here,” Gamez said.
Officials with Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium gave 13 News the following statement:
“The Pima County Stadium District is about to sign a one-year agreement with the team, we’re excited to have them here, and we’re planning for a larger announcement event mid-June at the stadium.”
Officials plan to release more information on how this move happened and more details on their plan to move forward in a press conference later this month.
Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold
Copyright 2025 13 News. All rights reserved.