Refugio Cervantes (minors02)

Refugio Cervantes
(Cuco)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 220 lb.

• Born August 5, 1978 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal MEX

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Refugio Cervantes was a slugging first baseman in the Mexican League whose professional career lasted from 1997 to 2018. He was a well-traveled player during his career, starting out with the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo at age 18 in 1997 (going 0 for 8 as a rookie) and playing for seven other teams in la Liga during his career. He is most associated with the Saraperos de Saltillo, for whom he played in 1999-2001, 2006-2013 and 2015. Often used as his team's clean-up hitter, he regularly hit 15 or more homers in a season, reaching the mark for the first time in 2003 with the Langosteros de Cancun and repeating at least six times, with statistics for the 2004 season missing. His career best was 25 homers in 95 games with Saltillo in 2011. He also regularly hit over .300, with a high of .357, also in 2011 and was a big run producer.

He was a regular in winter ball in the Mexican Pacific League, with the Tomateros de Culiacan being his preferred squad. He moved around frequently in that circuit as well.

One of the highlights of his career came with Saltillo in 2010 when they won the Mexican League championship by defeating the Pericos de Puebla in the finals. In the deciding game 5 played on August 16th, he homered twice, scored four runs and drove in five to lead the Saraperos to a 21-2 rout. He had won the league's Home Run Derby earlier that season. He was also an offensive leader on Saltillo's 2009 championship team.

He is most likely the son of another Refugio Cervantes, who was playing for the Mexico City Tigers the summer he was born in Mexico City. His putative father was also a first baseman, but not a big slugger like him.