Liga MX, Mexico's top professional league, is quickly becoming a more viable destination for U.S. players. In addition to the technical skill necessary to compete in the league, the split-season format between a summer/fall (Apertura) and winter/spring (Clausura) championship means that players are under constant pressure to perform in order to compete for trophies.
This intense competition has been helpful for a few of U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann's recent call-ups, and players such as Ventura Alvarado and Michael Orozco are beginning to reinforce the notion that they can be relied on in international competition. Meanwhile, other American players such as Greg Garza and William Yarbrough have shown in recent months that they require more consistent play in order to rise from the fringes of the player pool.
With the 2015 Clausura completed, we're handing out grades for Liga MX-based Americans who are in the national team mix. Similar to our grades for Americans in Europe, players on this list must have featured in at least half of their club's games in the Clausura season and made at least one appearance with the USMNT over the past 18 months.
Here are report cards for six Americans based in Liga MX, including analysis on their club performance during the 2015 Clausura and its impact on their USMNT standing, along with insight from ESPN FC Mexico reporter Tom Marshall.
Ventura Alvarado | 22 | Defender | Club America | Grade: A-
Alvarado has shrugged off the intense spotlight playing for one of Mexico's most popular teams, and has shown the quickness and defensive instincts to get in front of opposing attackers and clear away dangerous chances. After making just three appearances in the 17-game 2014 Apertura, Alvarado made 15 appearances for Club America in the 17-game 2015 Clausura, ranking third on the club in both total clearances (57) and aerial win percentage (69.2 percent).
"One of his major pluses is his versatility," said Marshall. "I think we've seen him play pretty much every position for [Club] America over the last nine months in the back four and the back three, and because he's decent with both feet that allows him to play on the left side or even as a right-back, which he has done before." This flexibility combined with consistent playing time at a top Liga MX club should make Alvarado a fixture in Klinsmann's plans throughout the 2018 World Cup cycle.
Edgar Castillo | 28 | Defender | Atlas | Grade: A-
Castillo's strength as a left-back is getting forward. In the 2015 Clausura, the defender ranked second on the team with 895 total touches and third with 398 touches in the attacking half. Castillo often combines with leading Atlas playmaker Aldo Ramirez in the attack, and is also capable of creating chances for himself via creative dribbling along the left side of the field.
Defense has been a bit of an issue for Castillo who, despite having 17 U.S. caps to his credit, hasn't featured for the USMNT over the past year. "He's very established in Mexico, and very well respected," Marshall said. "I think there's an understanding that defensively you are going to have concerns, but it always looks like he's going to make more mistakes than he actually does. As a constant threat going forward I was a bit surprised he didn't get called up to the U.S. given the other options they have at the left-back spot."
Despite criticism over his defending, Castillo led Atlas with 36 total tackles in the Clausura. Plus, more than 60 percent of these tackles came in the defensive third, indicating that the 28-year-old has no issues getting up and down the field to contribute on both sides of the ball. At 5-foot-9 and 146 pounds, Castillo may need to be more physical to earn a starting spot in the U.S. lineup, but his strong domestic performances in the 2015 domestic season should give the U.S. depth at a position where it is needed.
Michael Orozco | 29 | Defender | Puebla | Grade: B+
Orozco features as a center-back for the U.S. but his consistent play at right-back for Puebla throughout the 2015 Clausura illustrated that he is also mobile enough to get up and down the wings. The defender was reliable on the ball for his club - leading Puebla with 849 total touches - and served as a wide outlet who looked to get forward and take the initiative for creating chances in a stagnant Puebla attack. Orozco's ability to maintain possession is also an asset with the U.S., and playing as a center-back the 29-year-old currently leads all Americans with a 90.4 pass-completion percentage in friendlies since the 2014 World Cup.
While Orozco improved offensively in the most recent Liga MX campaign, his team-high 35 tackles in the Clausura maintained his reputation as a hard-nosed defender who is good at tracking opposing attackers and intimidating them with physical play and strong tackles. "I think he's very good with the ball at his feet, and a really hard defender," Marshall added. "He enjoys talking to the strikers and wingers and trying to get under their skin. And he really enjoys the tackle."
Greg Garza | 23 | Defender | Tijuana | Grade: B
Garza, who recently signed a new contract with Tijuana, is one of the most consistent left-backs in Liga MX. The 23-year-old ranked third on Tijuana with 2.5 interceptions per 90 minutes in the 2015 Clausura, a significant increase from the 2.2 he averaged in the 2014 Apertura. Moreover, Garza is able to dictate the movements of attackers by cutting off central passing lanes and quickly moving in to close down opponents. And he is also sound at marking inside Tijuana's penalty area and clearing away dangerous chances.
"I think he's one of the better left-backs in Liga MX now," Marshall said. "He's a well-rounded modern full-back in terms of getting up and down and doing the defensive side. And I think at club level that's important because there's so many coaching changes in Liga MX -- it's important that Greg is always capable of doing what the manager is asking."
In possession, Garza's 57 touches per 90 minutes in the Clausura were a big improvement from his 46 touches per 90 minutes in the Apertura, and the defender is gradually becoming less reliant on his left foot when joining the attack. This ability to get forward is particularly important for Garza's U.S. hopes, as he is likely to become more involved with the USMNT as he develops the vision necessary to generate more chances in the attacking half.
William Yarbrough | 26 | Goalkeeper | Leon | Grade: B-
Yarbrough, who made just seven appearances in the 2014 Apertura, made major strides in the 2015 Clausura, making 15 appearances and ranking seventh in the league with 56 saves for Leon. Yarbrough often prefers to stay on his line and rely on his quickness when facing shot attempts, and while the 26-year-old is athletic enough to quickly react to shots that are redirected towards goal, the fact that opponents averaged one more chance per game from crosses in the Clausura than they did in the Apertura suggests that the young keeper could improve on his command of the penalty area.
When Leon has possession, Yarbrough is excellent with his feet, and serves as an extra outlet for his teammates. "You could argue that he's probably in the top three goalkeepers in Liga MX with his feet and in terms of distribution of the ball," said Marshall. "For Leon, he generally releases the ball within two to three seconds, and he'll try and go for a ball that will put his team on the front foot."
This distribution ability gives Yarbrough an advantage over other U.S. goalkeepers in the pipeline, and with improved decision-making in the penalty area he could make a push for more playing time in the current World Cup cycle.
Joe Corona | 24 | Midfielder | Tijuana | Grade: C
Corona returned from a foot injury to play in 15 of 17 games in the 2015 Clausura. And while he averaged 10 more touches per 90 minutes in the Clausura than he did in his 13 Apertura appearances, the midfielder struggled to turn those extra touches into scoring chances for himself and his teammates.
The 24-year-old moved to the right side of midfield after spending most of the 2014 Apertura on the left, and ranked third on the team with 2.6 turnovers per 90 minutes as a result of cutting inside and dribbling into crowded central positions on a regular basis. In the attacking third, Corona also managed to record just three shots on target, and must become more proactive about getting open in the opponent's penalty area in order to receive more attention from Klinsmann & Co.