Dodgers Sign a Part-Time Taquero from Jalisco who Has a 93-mph Fastball

3:34 PM PDT on September 26, 2019

[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]ctavio Becerra used to work part-time at his uncle's taco shop in Jalisco. He just signed a contract to pitch for the dynastic Los Angeles Dodgers. What a world!

"I had just finished pitching when a scout for the Dodgers started asking me all these questions about my pitches," the lefty recently told Primer Impacto. "The scout said he'd be back with some news and like an hour and a half later he said they had signed me."

#NOTA El pitcher zurdo Octavio Becerra, ha sido firmado por los @LosDodgers @Dodgers el prospecto Número 1 de la @LigaMexBeis inicia su camino rumbo a las Grandes Ligas.#PasiónRielera #RieleroSoyO https://t.co/0Mjr5LQ6jS pic.twitter.com/JZ3UcjaIoK
— RielerosDeAgs (@RielerosDeAgs) August 1, 2019

Arguably the two biggest constants in L.A. are the Dodgers chasing a World Series title and the rest of us chasing taqueros. Leave it to Los Doyers to marry the two in the middle of their quest to win the Series for the first time since 1988 back when they had a Mexican lefty named Fernando Valenzuela on the roster.

It's unlikely, despite the Dodgers' infamous playoff pitching woes, that Becerra would play in the Majors this year. For now the 18-year-old is headed to the minor leagues. But he comes in rated as the Mexican league's No. 1 prospect. He last pitched for the LMB's Aguascalientes team los Rieleros where he notched 17 strikeouts in 18 innings.

Becerra's reportedly got a 93-mph fastball and sometimes delivers tacos to homes in Tepatitlán de Morelos for his uncle's restaurant. His uncle says he can be a pizza delivery driver in Los Angeles if the whole Dodgers thing doesn't work out.

Watch the feature by Primer Impacto below.

De taquero y repartidor de pizza a pitcher de las grandes ligas: Conoce la historia de superación y lucha de este joven hispano. pic.twitter.com/6HnWCCN2LD
— Primer Impacto (@PrimerImpacto) September 20, 2019

Erick Galindo @erickgeee

Erick Galindo is a contributing Editor to L.A. TACO. He writes the Mis Ángeles column for LAist/KPCC and has written essays on food and culture for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times.

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