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José; Cuas. Photo: taken from his Twitter account (@ Jcuas28).
Last Tuesday, the Dominican reliever Jos & eacute; Cuas crowned His journey of almost a decade to finally debut in the Big Leagues after a long, and unusual, path.
The career of Cuas, born in Santo Domingo but raised in New York, United States, began like that of many young people who shared his goal, playing at the collegiate level.
At the age of 19 he defended the colors of the University of Maryland, where he served as as an infielder, mainly as a shortstop or third baseman.
In 2015 he began his professional career, when he was selected in the eleventh round of the Major League Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.
However, after two years of extremely poor production in the batter’s box, the Brewers made the radical decision to turn José into the batter’s box. He became a pitcher, in order to exploit his other athletic gifts.
But the Milwaukee franchise decided to move on. He was released the following season, after poor results from the mound, which meant a serious blow to Cuas, who would later admit that that was the first time he thought in quitting baseball.
Support
José himself He has assured that he has an excellent support system, highlighting in a special way his brother Alex and his partner Anais, who always kept their faith in the talent of the Creole when he did not have it. in himself.
And it is that Alex was the first call he made. Cuas upon receiving the news that he was fired, assuring him that his career as a professional had ended.
& quot; and he told me: & # 39; They just released me, I’m finished. I told him: ‘Hey, relax. Let’s see what come on”, he expressed. Alex, who was aware of the economic difficulties that lay in his immediate future.
In an interview with the specialized media The Athletic, the reliever’s brother indicated that his nephew had been born in April of that same year, after a difficult pregnancy for Anais, and to that was added the fact that he was pregnant. that the family no longer had the little income Cuas had from his Minor League contract.
“I kept everything afloat. He was covering everything financially. All. I told him: ‘Go do what you have to do.I had that faith in him. I trust him,” Anais said.
Another chance
In 2019 he signed with the Long Island Ducks, which belonged to the Atlantic League (independent Major League), where he changed The direction of his career.
Already more comfortable as a pitcher, Cuas showed excellent numbers and was helped by one of the best relievers in recent history:Venezuelan Francisco Rodríguez, fourth on the save list in the ‘Big Top’.
“K-Rod” he saw Cuas pitching from the sideline at team practice and advised him to shoot. He kept doing it, an adjustment that paid off. many fruits for the Dominican, who dominated that league as a pitcher.
In addition to adjustments to the mound, perhaps Rodríguez’s greatest contribution to Cuas was his mentality, reiterating the fact that he was not only fighting to fulfill his dream, but also for the future of his family.
“(Francisco) told me something that stuck with me. It’s recorded to this day, and I think that’s why I’m where I am: ‘When you’re on the mound, every person that gets to first base over you, is loving it. taking food away from your son‘” Joseph to The Athletic.
His good performances with the Ducks called & oacute; He drew the attention of the Arizona Serpents, offering the Dominican a spot in their Minor League system in 2019, a chance he took advantage of. presenting excellent effectiveness.
One more blow
Building on his strong results the previous year, Cuas was excitedly preparing for Spring Training 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic stopped his performance. baseball activities.
And to top it off, Arizona, like the rest of the Major League organizations, was looking for a way to reduce the cost of its operations, resulting in the dismissal of José; .
Once again doubts began to overwhelm him, since on the first occasion understood The Brewers’ decision to release him, since he wasn’t producing on the field.
This time he was having an excellent performance and still looked for the second time outside of organized baseball.
again he thinks about giving up his dream, now confessing in front of his wife, that she was pregnant with his daughter, who strongly opposed that proposal.
“I was like ‘don’t you dare’. Do you think I’ve sacrificed all this for you? No way. You’re not going to give up,” he said. Anais.
Perseverance
In order to help his family, José; got it He took a job as a messenger for the FedEx shipping company, while continuing to practice in a park at night with his brother.
or
According to Cuas, one day, randomly, a Serpents coach asked him what he wanted. if he was interested in pitching with the Águilas Cibaeñas in the Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic (Lidom).
In the country, during the 2021-2022 season he posted a 1.80 ERA in 13 appearances, impressing T.J. Peña, who is also part of the Kansas City Royals franchise.
The Royals signed him and Cuas climbed to the top. He quickly rose to the Minor League levels, being subsequently called up to the Major Leagues.
His major league debut came on May 31 against Cleveland, pitching a scoreless inning, with a punch.
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