On The Farm: Albuquerque Isotopes transform into Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE — Four hundred miles south of 20th and Blake in Denver is a location where the Rockies best and brightest prospects hone their skills with hopes of contributing to their parent club to help push for the playoffs. That place for development is the Duke City of Albuquerque.

It’s a familiar location where altitude plays a factor, a humidor is utilized, and the ballpark is considered one of the finest in their league.

Often thought of as the Coors Field of the Pacific Coast League, Isotopes Park in Albuquerque is currently home to a handful of notable names: Raimel Tapia, Mike Tauchman, Jeff Hoffman, Antonio Senzatela, Jordan Patterson, Tom Murphy and Scott Oberg.

While wins and losses are not the primary concern here on the field—development takes precedence—the overall experience of those in the stands is what matters most to the front office. And that experience Saturday, on Cinco de Mayo, was one of the finest in this successful team’s history.  

Founded as a Spanish colonial outpost in 1706, Albuquerque is home to 558,000 residents, 46.7% of which are of Hispanic or Latino descent. Those in attendance on Saturday proudly supported their hometown club and celebrated their heritage in one of the most memorable nights at the world famous ballpark.

Nearly 17,000 fans flocked to Isotopes Park on the night to witness the transformation of their ‘Topes into the “Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico.” As part of minor league baseball’s Hispanic heritage promotion Copa de la Diversion, or Fun Cup, teams around the country changed their typical identity, and one of the most well-received has been the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate. 

Isotopes Director of Public Relations Kevin Collins was blown away by the success of the evening and commented on this transformation and the overall success of the evening by saying, “This is this largest crowd I’ve ever seen here.”

It turned out to indeed be the largest crowd Isotopes Park has ever seen.

The announced attendance of 16,975 outdrew all other Fourth of July games, a Manny Ramirez rehab, and even last season’s Albuquerque Green Chile Cheeseburgers rebranding, honoring the popular regional food of New Mexico. The best green chile in the world objectively exists in New Mexico.

Renamed “La Placa” for this special promotion, Isotopes Park became a celebration site of Hispanic culture. Three separate mariachi bands welcomed fans into the ballpark; pinatas decorated the stadium and face painters made children and adults look like sugar skulls come to life.

Out in the crowd, the sounds and sights of celebration crashed over the ballpark like endless waves of joy and unity.

On the field, outfielders Tapia and Tauchman, starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela, and many more Mariachis wore the white, black and red uniforms with this new nickname emblazoned across the chest, with a New Mexico patch on their sleeve. Players wore a cap depicting a stylized skull wearing a traditional mariachi’s sombrero.

It was a special night in New Mexico that showcased the future of the Colorado Rockies, honored the Hispanic heritage of Albuquerque, and featured the best of Isotopes baseball.

From The Game

Senzatela looked very sharp, striking out eight El Paso Chihuahuas in four innings pitched. He got ahead of hitters, getting a strike against nine of the 14 batters he faced. The Rockies long reliever topped out at 97 MPH and showed the typical poise of a major leaguer.

After giving up a leadoff double to start the game, Senzatela struck out the next three batters. At one point, he walked the opposing pitcher then induced an inning-ending double play.

A few key Albuquerque bats came to life on Saturday night in the 4-1 victory over Padres affiliate El Paso, particularly recently demoted Ryan McMahon.

After being optioned earlier in the week, the first baseman had yet to get a hit in his first 14 at-bats. On Saturday, he had an RBI single to give the Mariachis their first run of the game in the third and later laced a double to left centerfield.

Mike Tauchman’s lengthy hit streak may have ended Friday night, but the speedy outfielder started a new one with a third-inning single.

Jordan Patterson’s seemingly inconsequential hit-by-pitch in the third inning not only became Albuquerque’s third run of the game, but it also gave the Alabama-native the Isotopes team record for career hit-by-pitch with 35 all-time; he would later raise that mark to 36.

Raimel Tapia flashed his power with a double to left field in the bottom of the 6th.