The future of baseball is already here, and his name is Jesús Made, the young prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers. Born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic, Jesús was a child who, like many there, dreamed of reaching the Major Leagues. For many years, he worked very hard until his moment arrived. The young ballplayer signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, marking the official start of the career of one of the best prospects in the baseball world today.
After a stellar and unique run in the Dominican league, Jesús arrives in the United States eager to continue proving why he is one of the best—if not the best—prospect in all of baseball. And here, he shares his story, a story that is only just beginning.
Why did you start playing baseball when you were younger?
I have liked this sport since I was a kid, the love I have for this game is incredible, and it’s my favorite sport.
Describe to me the process between when you started to play as kid until you got to a level where you had the chance to sign with an MLB team?
It’s a long process, with a lot of ups and downs, a process that everyone in baseball goes through between being a kid until you grow up. And thanks to God my process was successful and thank to God a MLB team signed me, which it was what I wanted.
What was the journey like when you got to sign with the Brewers?
It was a long process, a lot of try outs, a lot of games, and thank to God I put the work and did what they wanted me to do and now thank to God they have me in their organization.
After signing with the Brewers, you had a stellar season in the Dominican League last summer. You went from being a top international prospect to a top prospect overall. How did you live that experience?
Working hard, trusting God, doing things the right way every day, thinking that if I can, I’m the best and getting ready for everything.
Can you describe a practice and a game day for you during last summer?
A practice day it was a day with meetings, bat practice, rolling, condition and gym. A game day it was practice and gym more than anything. And after that we go to play.
You play primarily at shortstop, but also you had reps at second and third base. What’s the plan for the future? Do you feel comfortable playing more positions than Shortstop?
My favorite position is shortstop, but I can play any base they want me to play, I like to play and I can play in any base, that’s not a problem for me.
What is your favorite thing about playing shortstop?
It’s my favorite position because I have been playing it since I was a kid. I like the game, the fast game, and that’s the type of game the shortstop plays.
You had one of the greatest batting seasons in the Dominican League, what was the approach you had every time you stepped on the plate and your mentality when facing a pitcher?
Really nothing goes through my mind at that moment. The only thing that goes through is to find my pitch, the one I’m comfortable with and let him throw any pitch he wants, I don’t swing to a pitch I’m not comfortable with.
From your point of view, how would you describe how the Brewers organization works with international prospects? We have the example of Jackson Chourio, how has this experience of working with them been?
Really really good, they prepare you to keep improving and getting better, they prepare you physically, mentally, on the field and off the field. It’s something incredible, really beautiful.
Thanks to your stellar season last season you have started to gain a lot of attention from the media and the fans. How are you managing all this attention?
All good, I read things about myself and about how I have performed. They talk about the type of player that I’m and it’s all good.
This offseason, what have you been focusing on to improve for the season?
Focusing on my defense and my body, working my body hard, trying to keep it healthy with God’s grace.
In the USA, in Arizona, you are in the Brewers Complex, how has your experience now training there being, is there anything different than in the Dominican Republic?
No, nothing different. Just getting used to the climate, the coaches, my teammates and how they work in here.
How would you describe yourself as a player?
I would say I’m an explosive player, intelligent, a guy that loves the game, that while he’s failing he’s good because failure doesn’t make me look back, failure makes me look forward.
What would you say that are your strength’s in defense and offense?
My strong point on defense is my reach to the ball, and on offense my power.
When you are not playing baseball or training for it, what do you enjoy doing in that free time?
Being with my family, with my friends in the patio, in the house and nothing else. I’m not much into moving around, my thing is my family and my baseball.
What side of the plate you feel more comfortable batting?
There is not a side I feel more comfortable from, because I use both of my hands since I was a kid, not like I was born with one hand and I adapted to the other, I was born with this ability.
How do you see the international landscape of baseball? Not only in Latin America, but also in Europe?
Baseball everywhere, the more baseball the better. More opportunities for the latinos and for Americans. A lot of baseball, that’s something beautiful.
If you had to compare yourself with a player, past or present, who would it be and why?
Francisco Lindor, how he plays, his aggressiveness, his batting, his defense, how he presents himself on the field.
If you had to choose your favorite moment from your baseball career, what would it be and why?
A moment that made me was my first summer game, the first at-bat when I hit a home run.
What are your expectations for yourself? What do you think your progression will be next season?
Well, my expectation is to have a better season than the previous one and work hard, because hard work speaks for itself. I also hope that God grants me health and the ability to do the job this season.
What do you think will be the biggest difference when you step up to the plate this coming season, with all your past experience, now playing professionally in the U.S.?
Nothing really, I’ll be playing on a field, there will be a different atmosphere, but I’m used to that environment because I thrive in it, and everything will be fine.
