Welcome to Volume Eleven of PARScards for 2026!
This one will be brief, and hopefully fun. Next up we have OG PARS icon Juan Yepez, now of the Dorados de Chihuahua in the Mexican League. Let’s dig in!
Background
PARSlist was, for a time, called “The Juan Yepez hype-train conductor” on Twitter. My affinity for Yepez is well-documented, ever since the formula turned up a name that no one else was discussing. He landed at #30 on the original unpolished list. If you remember the below graphic, you’re an OG PARSlist crew member, and I appreciate you:
Juan did eventually get the call, knocking 12 home runs in 2022 during a respectable rookie campaign in which he hit .253/.296/.447 over 76 games—good for a 107 wRC+.
He even hit a 7th inning pinch-hit go-ahead home run in Game One of the NL Wild Card Series that year. Attaboy, Juan.
How’d We Get Here?
Unfortunately, Juan stalled out in 2023, demoted to the minors on June 5 after hitting just .214/.283/.381. He had his chance, and missed. After signing with the Washington Nationals, he was recalled on July 5, 2024 and became their near-everyday first baseman for the remainder of the season. He ended up hitting .283/.335/.429 with 6 home runs.
Yepez was sent to Triple-A Rochester to open 2025, losing the starting job to Nathaniel Lowe. He also missed out on the backup job, losing to Jose Tena due to his infield versatility and speed. In Triple-A, Juan struggled, and I would wager it was due to disappointment and lost mojo.
Yepez moved on to the Venezuelan Winter League for 2025-26, where he hit .266/.324/.457 over 28 games. Then, to start 2026, he opted to sign with the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League instead of trying his hand at a minor-league pact with an MLB club. The decision has so far paid off.
Juan ended the 2026 season hitting .312/.370/.547, with 16 home runs over 83 games. He led the squad in homers and RBI’s—a team that also rostered former Major Leaguer hitters in Andrelton Simmons, Jonathan Schoop, Andre Lipcius, Coco Montes, and Mark Contreras, as well as banned prospect Brainer Bonaci.
The Good
- Finished 9th overall in home runs, behind former big-leaguers such as Yangervis Solarte, Kyle Garlick, Franklin Barreto, and Franchy Cordero. He tied with Oscar Colás.
- Finished 9th overall in RBI, as well as 2nd in the league with 30 doubles
- Found new life in Mexico and produced, which had to help the mental side of things.
The Bad
- Well, he’s playing in the Mexican League, and obviously, we want him in Major League Baseball.
- Though he added some defensive versatility, splitting his time between first base and right field, he’s still defensively challenged with zero speed.
The Verdict
Who cares, it’s a Juan Yepez update! There is no action to take here, this was simply a fun exercise. I will say this, however: the door is not fully closed on Yepez returning to the bigs. There, I said it. I STILL have hope. He performed very well in Mexico, and if he ever wants, I’m sure he can secure a minor-league pact. If Juan found some renewed vigor in the Mexican League and one day brings it stateside, he might just add another chapter to his story in MLB.
Thanks for reading!
- Rick ✌🏼