Tijuana Toros: Junior Lake Joins Team In Three-Player Trade With Bravos de Leon
Tijuana, Mexico
This Wednesday, July 11, 2018, the Tijuana Toros conducted a three-player trade with Bravos de Leon.
The Border City Bulls received 28-year-old outfielder Junior Lake in the deal and gave up 34-year-old right-handed pitcher Cesar Carrillo and 20-year-old left-handed pitcher Sergio Alvarado.
Tijuana’s sporting director did mention that the acquisition of Lake was influenced by Cyle Hankerd’s injury. Hankerd is currently on the 15-day disables list, but will be a significant loss given the short tournament format in the LMB.
Lake has been playing in the Mexican baseball league since 2017 and had put up decent numbers with Bravos de Leon.
The Dominican outfielder hit .288 with six home runs and 34 RBI in 41 games in the 2017 LMB season and hit .333 with nine home runs, 26 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a .450 OBP in the 2018 LMB spring tournament.
The 28-year-old also counts with some MLB experience as he played with the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays from 2013-2016.
Lake’s best season was his rookie year where he hit .284 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 64 games. The former Cubbie also played in the Red Sox minor league system with the Pawtucket Paw Sox in 2017.
Lake is a very good hitter for this league and also provides pop and speed that could be very valuable to this Toros’ lineup. Lino Rivera’s side will not lose much without the pair of pitchers it gave up in the deal and should be able to stay competitive with Lake replacing Hankerd in the lineup.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.