The Los Angeles Dodgers know a thing or two about finding talented pitchers from other countries. They made history signing Japanese pitcher Shohei Ohtania in 2023 for a historic $700 million, 10-year contract and landed the top free agent pitcher, also from Japan, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who helped lead them to victory in the 2024 World Series. Now, the team has signed another prodigy prospect, this time a teenager from Sinaloa, Mexico. At just 17 years old, Andrés Luna Román could soon be the Dodgers' secret Mexican weapon.
In 2024, Luna signed with Toros de Tijuana to complete his development process and head to the Major Leagues. The right-handed pitcher completed his preparation with the team and will now begin his long road to the Major Leagues.
He signed with the Dodgers on January 27 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, with his family there to support him along with Juvenal Soto, international scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Enrique Padilla, scout for the Tijuana Bulls, were also in attendance.
"I feel very proud and very happy, especially because this day means a lot to me and my entire family. Today, I was able to make my family happy because little by little, I am achieving my dream," the pitcher said, per Toros de Tijuana.
But it doesn't mean Luna will be pitching at the start of the scheduled season - he still has some work to do and will continue training in Guadalajara while waiting for the Dodgers' call.
“They were seeing me at various academies throughout Mexico - that’s how I managed to sign with them. Firstly, I am going to be training in the Dominican Republic on the Minor League team and training there until I advance," he explained.
Who is Andrés Luna?
Luna was born in October 12, 2007, in Ahome, Sinaloa. With natural talent, he began playing when he was three years old in the Cuervos de Zapopan League.
The right-hand pitcher and batter only recently switched to pitching, "I grew up as an infielder playing 2nd and 3rd base, and I loved to bat and was a problem for other pitchers on the plate, but I switched to pitching four to five years ago, and now I love pitching," he explained.
He has an incredible arsenal that will only improve as he develops, featuring a fastball that already reaches 92 miles per hour. He complements it with a sinker, curveball, and slider, all rounded out by a changeup.
Ready to fight for his spot, he sees a long future with the Dodgers, who he said was his favorite team. "I see myself playing with The Dodgers in the long term, and my dream is to have a ring," Román told reporters.
Luna was the fifth international signing for Toros de Tijuana in 2025. Emilio Payró went to the Houston Astros, Moisés Morales to the Miami Marlins, and Alan Carpinteiro and Diago Machado to the Seattle Mariners.
When does the MLB season start?
The 2025 season starts with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs held in Tokyo, Japan, March 18-19. The rest of the regular season is set to run from March 27 to September 28.