MESA, Ariz. -- The bus ride from Los Mochis, Mexico, to Tucson, Ariz., was 12 hours long. The trip from Tucson to the Phoenix area took another two.

By the time the Cañeros de Los Mochis baseball team arrived at Sloan Park for Arizona Fall League action against the Mesa Solar Sox on Wednesday, the players were tired, but excited to step on the field.

“We feel like the trip here can really prepare us for our season that starts next month. It’s the ultimate training stop,” Cañeros general manager Carlos Soto said in Spanish. “We love coming here. Yes, it’s a tough trip to get here, but we feel like it’s worth it to be here, and we are very happy.”

Angels No. 1 prospect Jo Adell welcomed the visitors with a home run on the second pitch in the bottom of the first inning as part of a five-run frame that set the tone for the game. The Solar Sox scored eight runs -- three on a homer by Oakland No. 17 prospect Greg Diechmann -- to put the game out of reach in the second.

Adell, who entered the game with only one hit in 24 AFL at-bats, finished 4-for-5 with four runs scored in the Solar Sox’s 15-2 victory.

“I felt like I did a really good job of keeping everything simple,” Adell said. “I think early on, starting off in the AFL, I felt like I was trying to do too much, trying to generate too much. I just let the ball come to me and put a good swing on it.”

But Adell’s night and the final score are only part of the story.

The Cañeros are in the United States as part of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, a three-week tour of Mexican Pacific League teams through Las Vegas, Phoenix, Mesa, Douglas, Ariz., Nogales, Mexico, and Tucson.

In addition to Cañeros de Los Mochis, the Aguilas de Mexicali, los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, and Yaquis de Obregón of the Mexican Pacific League will also square off against Arizona Fall League teams through Oct. 2. The Tomateros de Culiacan and Mayos de Navojoa will also play games in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

The Cañeros’ trip to the United States is not just about baseball and fun. It’s about family. Soto’s brother, Saul Soto, is the team’s designated hitter and his son, Carlos Soto Jr., a Minor League player in the Cardinals’ organization, is the team’s catcher.

“This is my 21st year in baseball, and it’s really fun to spend this one with my brother and nephew in the same organization,” Saul Soto, 41, said in Spanish. “I’m here as family member to help as much as I can. As baseball player, I’m still capable of playing the game.”

Saul Soto hit 12 home runs in 134 games during his two years in the Minors with Dodgers. He reached Double-A with the club in 2001. The slugger made a name and career for himself in Mexico, hitting 391 homers with 1,473 RBIs in 2,495 games.

As for Carlos Soto Jr., he signed with the Cardinals for $100,000 on July 2, 2016. He split last season between Class A short season State College Spikes and Class A Peoria Chiefs, where he combined to hit .232 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games.

“I felt like I put in the effort to put up good numbers and have a good season overall, so I’m satisfied with that,” Soto Jr. said in Spanish. “Being here with my family motivates me to be the best I can be so we can have a good season in Mexico. My ultimate goal is to keep working hard and advance levels with the Cardinals.”

It’s already been a memorable experience for the young catcher. He spent part of pregame Wednesday chatting with Tigers’ No. 5 prospect Isaac Paredes, who is also from Mexico, and Cubs’ No. 2 prospect Miguel Amaya, who he played against in the Dominican Summer League three years ago.

He finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

“We came to compete and have some fun,” Soto Jr. said. “I want to get better.”