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The Mexican Pacific Winter League team that planned to relocate from Navojoa to Tucson last year was supposed to play its first season at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in the fall.

However, a visa issue arose just before the start of the season, which prevented that from happening.

On Monday, with no solution in sight, the team announced it would remain in Mexico.

“We are grateful for the support we received from Pima County, Visit Tucson and the Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism & Film Authority throughout this project,� Victor Cuevas Jr., co-owner of the Tucson Baseball Team, said in a news release. “We were all looking forward to making history together here in Pima County.

"While this chapter is coming to a close, we leave with nothing but appreciation for the fans and sponsors who believed in and supported the team.�

The Tucson Baseball Team played exhibition games in Phoenix and Tucson, including the Mexican Baseball Fiesta in early October. But it kept pushing back its regular-season debut at Kino while trying to resolve the visa issue. TBT ended up playing all of its games at opponents’ ballparks in Mexico.

Team ownership had hoped to start anew in Tucson in 2026, but lingering uncertainty led to those plans being abandoned.

“The Cuevas family was a wonderful partner and shared the vision of making history here as the first U.S.-based franchise in the league,� Sarah Hanna (formerly Horvath), director of the Kino Sports Complex, said in the release. “I wish them nothing but the best in the future.�