Luis Verdugo is a 26-year-old third baseman from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico — a right-handed hitter and thrower working his way through the Philadelphia Phillies‘ minor league system. Every winter, he heads back to Culiacán to suit up for the Tomateros in the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico, and his numbers there tell a story of steady growth.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Luis Verdugo
- Position: Third Base
- Team (winter): Tomateros de Culiacán (LMP, 2026-27)
- Jersey: #12
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’2″ / 161 lbs
- Born: October 12, 2000 — La Paz, Mexico 🇲🇽
Background
Verdugo showed an early aptitude for the hot corner and eventually signed with the Phillies organization, working his way up through the minor league ladder. He has logged time at both Double-A and Triple-A, splitting his calendar year between the US circuit and the Mexican winter league, where he has become a familiar face in Culiacán.
Professional Career
Verdugo’s minor league résumé includes stops with the Tennessee Smokies (Double-A, 2024), the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A, 2025), and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Triple-A, 2025), where he hit .180 with 2 home runs in 31 games. His most productive stateside season came in 2026 with the San Antonio Missions (Double-A): 100 games, a .248 average, 10 home runs, and a .704 OPS.
He has yet to make his MLB debut, but his defensive reliability at third base keeps him on Philadelphia’s radar as a prospect in development. Consistency at the plate remains the next step.
Winter Ball with Tomateros de Culiacán
The LMP is where Verdugo has been at his best. His numbers with Culiacán over the past four winters:
- 2026-27: 22 G | .257 AVG | 5 HR | 11 RBI | .938 OPS | 19 H
- 2025-26: 64 G | .260 AVG | 9 HR | 31 RBI | .803 OPS | 60 H
- 2024-25: 35 G | .269 AVG | 3 HR | 17 RBI | .745 OPS | 32 H
- 2023-24: 35 G | .228 AVG | 2 HR | 12 RBI | .623 OPS | 26 H
The trend is clear: each winter has been better than the last. His current .938 OPS through 22 games in 2026-27 is a career-best mark and his most encouraging stretch of offensive production to date.
Something Worth Noting
Verdugo’s winter consistency — batting between .257 and .269 over the last three LMP seasons — stands in contrast to the tougher road he has faced in the US minor leagues. That gap reflects the competitive difference between the two circuits, but it also shows a player who knows how to produce when given regular at-bats. His commitment to Culiacán across multiple winters speaks to both his development focus and his connection to Mexican baseball.
