On January 15th, he will officially wear the Mariners jersey, as revealed to Cazarez by Robert Garcia, CEO of Showtime Athletes, who recommended him to switch from infielder to pitcher.
I signed, Mom, I signed!
Juan Francisco Cazarez left his family in Bahia Tortugas at the age of 16 and promised his family that he would not return home until he secured a contract with a Major League team. Two years later, the then shortstop, now 18-year-old right-handed pitcher with a fastball of up to 95 miles per hour, was packing this morning to return because he was notified that the Seattle Mariners had signed him.
On January 15th, he will officially wear the Mariners jersey, as revealed to Cazarez by Robert Garcia, CEO of Showtime Athletes, who recommended him to switch from infielder to pitcher and helped him increase his pitching velocity from 89 to 95 miles per hour. He will be the second pitcher the academy has signed with Seattle after bringing Jeter Martinez in January of last year.
"I have a promise not to return to my town until I can secure a contract for Major League Baseball. It has taken me two years away from home searching for the dream of getting a contract and I'm not going to return until I can fulfill it. I haven't seen my parents in a year, but I know it will all be worth it," Juan had said after making his debut with the Leon Braves at the age of 17.
"I signed, Mom, I signed!" That was the message Juan gave to his mom this morning over the phone. "I did it, Mom. I told you. Thank you, Mom. I told you I was going to make it and I did. It wasn't easy, but I did it, and this is for you, okay? Thank you for everything, Mom," added Cazarez in tears, before being congratulated by his teammates at the academy located in Boca Raton.
Originally from Los Mochis, but residing in Bahia Tortugas, Juan Francisco joined the Showtime Athletes academy 10 months ago with the aim of working with Garcia on his pitching, improving his speed and mechanics, as stated by the player himself, who was also part of the Mexican national team that recently competed in the Under 18 World Baseball Championship held in Taipei.