Professional baseball is back in Tucson, Arizona, thanks to relocation of Mexican team

On Tuesday, the Mayos de Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific Winter League (MPL) announced a move to Tucson, Arizona, becoming the first professional baseball team to represent the city in over a decade. They will be playing in the Kino Sports Complex starting in the 2025-26 season, with Tucson to be the first American city to participate in the MPL.

The Mayos are relocating across the border from their base in Sonora, Mexico. According to the MPL President, the team faced financial and logistical challenges that made it hard to remain in Mexico, including those that arose in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mayos signed a one-year contract, though according to the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson officials are hoping it will lead to a multi-year arrangement. According to Victor Cuevas, president of the Mayos, the team are set to rename themselves with the help of fan input.

According to All Sports, reports had first emerged about a possible move a few months ago.

Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño announced plans to convert their former stadium into a school for young baseball players, similar to what happened with the Estadio Héctor Espino, according to El Sol de Hermosillo.

The last professional franchise in Tucson was the Tucson Sidewinders, with the Tucson Saguaros, considered semi-professional by the Arizona Daily Star, currently representing the city.