Higuera was named the rookie of the year with the Indios de Ciudad Juárez during the 1981 Mexican League season.

After one year in the minor leagues, Higuera earned a spot in the team's 1985 rotation after winning a competition with Japanese pitcher Yutaka Enatsu.

In his first season with Milwaukee, he posted a 15–8 record with a 3.90 ERA en route to winning The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award in 1985.

In the game, Fernando Valenzuela struck Higuera out in the fifth inning to tie Carl Hubbell's All-Star record with five consecutive strikeouts.

[3] Over his first four years in the league, Higuera had a won loss record of 69–38, 766 strikeouts and a 3.25 ERA and was poised for greater success.