The Mexican National Women’s Softball Team received on 20 November the Premio Nacional de Deportes (National Sports Award), the top sport's honour in the country. The national team received the award from Mexican President and WBSC Global Ambassador Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. During the ceremony, held at Campo Marte, former MLB pitcher Fernando Valenzuela was also recognised for his remarkable career.
The Mexican softball team was awarded the prize for their historic qualification to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Mexico went undefeated in winning the WBSC Softball Americas Olympic Qualifier in Surrey, Canada in 2019.
Valenzuela, who starred with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is considered as one of the best players in Mexican baseball history, also received the recognition from Lopez Obrador. “I’m very happy, imagine what it means to me to award the Premio Nacional de Deportes to Fernando Valenzuela, the best baseball player in the history of our nation. I admire him because it’s the sport I play,” said the Mexican President.
Left-handed pitcher Julio Urias, World Series 2020 champion with the Los Angles Dodgers, was also present at the ceremony after being received by Lopez Obrador at his office in the Government Palace.
