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You don’t have to look far to find out why the Brewers are number one in the Central National League, seven games ahead of the Reds. Shortstop Willy Adames has been enjoying a dream season since being acquired from the Rays in a trade on May 21. He’s 47 for 162 (0.290) with nine homers and 30 RBIs with Milwaukee. He is already seventh on the team in WAR (2.0).
Ahead of the All-Star hiatus, MLB.com caught up with Adames to talk about his rise to power with the Brewers and his time with the Rays.
MLB.com: You started off slowly with the Rays. You are now having a dream season since you were traded to the Brewers in late May. Why is this the case?
Willy Adamès: I feel like I regained my confidence when I went to Milwaukee. … I also had trouble seeing the ball at Trop [Tropicana Stadium]. I feel like that’s part of why there is a big change. But if you look back and see the numbers on the road, it was kind of like the [numbers with the Brewers]. … It’s a big difference.
MLB.com: When you are out of the Too, what advantages do you have when you are in the batter’s box?
Adamès: Every time I came out of the Too, I felt like I was able to recognize the rotation of the ball. You could see if it was a broken bullet, a change or something. At Trop, I couldn’t pick it up. It was a difficult time. When you’re like 0-for-20, you’re trying to make an adjustment. So you’re like looking for stuff and changing your swing. Now I realize it wasn’t me. I couldn’t see the ball. That’s why I was trying to make a lot of changes and just trying to find a way to be successful at The Trop.
MLB.com: Was it the lighting of the Trop?
Adamès: It was the lighting, I believe. In 2018, I was fine when they had the old lights. Then they changed the lights. I don’t know what they did to him; I had a hard time picking up. But there were also a few guys who complained about it. I was not the only one.
MLB.com: You said you had regained your confidence in Milwaukee. How did you get it back?
Adamès: I regained confidence by being myself on the plate. The way the Brewers treat me is special. The way they welcomed me here, it was great. So I was happy with that. Everyone felt this when I came here. They welcomed me with open arms and had a smile on their face. It was just a great vibe when I got here.
MLB.com: Everyone is talking about you as one of the leaders of this team. How did it happen?
Adamès: I don’t know, man. I think it’s just something natural that I have. I never try to be the leader of the team or anything like that. I’m just trying to be a good teammate – I’m just trying to help who I can help. I just try to be the same guy every day whether I’m doing good or bad. It’s just who I am. I like to enjoy the game. I like to have fun. I’m happy to pass this on to my teammates. I think that’s the way you should play this game – just having fun.
MLB.com: What is it like playing with the Brewers and their fans?
Adamès: Astonishing. The other day we had a series against the Cubs. It looked like the playoffs. It was unbelievable. It feels good to play for a lot of fans like that. For me, being there was special.
MLB.com: You were born and raised in the Dominican Republic. How did you adapt so well to the United States? You are the go-to media guy.
Adamès: [Laughing] It was hard at first. I am still learning the language. I didn’t know English [when I came to this country]. It was difficult for me to learn the language. I had to get used to a different country, different rules, different culture.
So I have to thank my teammates in the minor leagues. I have to thank Kean Wong [Brewers teammate Kolten Wong’s brother] and Andrew Velazquez, because I lived with them for two or three years. These are the guys who have helped me the most with the language and the culture – just to get used to being here. I wanted to learn the language. The only chance I had was to live with them. They spoke English. For me, being with them every day was the best thing to learn the language. … If I want to be able to express myself, I have to learn the language.
MLB.com: What awaits the Brewers? You guys are doing fine.
Adamès: We played really good baseball and I think we have to keep doing that, just to keep having fun, to enjoy what the other team is giving us. If everyone stays healthy and we keep the guys on the pitch I think we’ll be fine. We have a pretty good team.
MLB.com: Want to stay in Milwaukee for a long time?
Adamès: I really like it here. I really feel at ease. The fans are amazing. The coaching staff and the group of players that we have are great guys.
MLB.com: What does your Milwaukee family think?
Adamès: They haven’t been there yet. They’re coming next month, hopefully. I told them it was special. This series against the Cubs, it made me feel like I was living the dream. I told Avisaíl García: “I am living the dream. It’s crazy. It is something incredible. The only time I felt like it was in the playoffs [in 2019] with the fans. In 2019, we filled the Trop stadium. It was crazy. That’s what I felt playing against the Cubs.
MLB.com: What did you think of your stay in Tampa?
Adamès: It was a good time. It was a learning process the first two years. I have to thank them for the opportunity they gave me to take me to the big leagues and play every day. I loved playing it. The fans were really respectful, really great. The organization was amazing.
MLB.com: No bitterness at all?
Adamès: No no no. I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I will always be grateful.
MLB.com: When you were traded, what was your first reaction?
Adamès: I was surprised. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know there was anything going on. It was sad at first. I spent seven years with the organization. I had my boys there. I was on a new team, but a few guys I knew here calmed me down a bit. They gave me hope that I was going to be okay here. They called me and told me to take the first flight and forget everything and come here. It made me feel good.
MLB.com: Who did you talk to?
Adamès: Avisaiil and Narvy [Omar Narváez]. They called me like four times that day. They told me I would be fine here. My Tampa First Base Coach [Ozzie Timmons] says it’s going to be good for you and your career. It was sad, but I was excited because I knew I was going to have a new opportunity with a new team, a new city, new fans. I am grateful to be a part of this team.
Adamès: I take advantage of it. We are playing really well. The first thing that came to my mind after being traded was that I was going on a winning team, a team that is fighting to make it to the playoffs. That’s what I like. I like to win. I like the competition. I am happy to be part of this team.
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