*This content was translated by AI.
Esteban Floral (28, Tomateros de Culiacan), who played for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League in the 2025 season, was a special reinforcement player and entered the championship game with the task of "winning contractor," but he is regretting his performance that did not meet expectations.
Floral started as the third batter and right fielder in the third game of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP) championship match against Charos de Jalisco at Estadio Panamericano in Jalisco, Mexico, on the 25th (Korea time), but has been sluggish in three consecutive championship games with no hits, one walk and two strikeouts. The team was also on the verge of failing to win the championship game with a complete defeat of 0-8.
From the previous LMP postseason to the semifinals, he led the team's batting line with three home runs and four RBIs in five semi-final series games played by Aguilas de Mexicali. In particular, the batting average in nine postseason games reached 0.364 and the on-base plus slugging ratio (OPS) was very high at 1.209. As a result, he was specially selected by Tomateros ahead of the final as the "No. 1 overall pick in the Reinforcement Draft," but the bat cooled down on the most important stage. LMP operates a unique system in which teams that have advanced to the finals can strengthen their power by recruiting additional key players from teams that have been eliminated.
Floral is being used in the third batting order, the team's central lineup, in this final series. He started as the third batter and right fielder in three consecutive games, but he did not have the "one shot" he expected. From Game 1 to Game 3 of the finals, Floral scored only one point. The only hit he made in the second game was a hit, and there was no timely hit. In the first game, the only contributing scene was to get on base with a walk and score. When Floral, who showed off his ability to drive, was given intensive checks by opposing pitchers, he has been struggling with the game and repeatedly hitting. Tomateros's expected destructive power as a "winning contractor" when he recruited him has been missing so far. Tomateros was also on the verge of being eliminated from the series with three consecutive losses.
The appearance of Floral is familiar to domestic baseball fans and Hanwha fans. Floral, who was a member of Hanwha in the 2025 season, had high expectations for his overwhelming physical condition and power, but failed to settle in the KBO league due to his ups and downs. In the end, he was replaced by Luis Liberato with a batting average of 0.271 (70 hits in 258 at-bats) in 65 games, eight homers and 29 RBIs, and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 0.783 (OPS).
The silence of this finals series is painful for him, who sought to re-enter the MLB or return to the Asian League by proving his value again in the Mexican Winter League. Mexican fans are also sad about Floral, saying, "It's embarrassing to see him not continue the scary momentum he showed in the postseason."
Now, Floral and his team Tomateros are in a situation where they lose one more game to Jalisco, the opposing team, to lose the series. Attention is also focusing on whether Floral and Tomateros will be able to rebound.
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*This content was translated by AI.
