How a basketball fan from Santo Domingo became an MLB All-Star closer
In short: While a child in Santo Domingo's Boca Chica, Jeurys Familia chose basketball over baseball. Lacking even basic equipment, he eventually pivoted to pitching, eventually becoming the New York Mets' dominant closer and a Major League Baseball All-Star in 2016.
Familia's journey to the Major Leagues began in 2007 when he signed with the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent for $100,000. Before his professional ascent, he was a basketball enthusiast inspired by players like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. His path was not easy; his parents, a military worker and a boutique employee, raised five children on their combined wages in a household where his father worked part-time at a gas station due to a childhood leg injury.
His professional career saw significant highs and lows. By 2015, Familia had joined the Mets as closer, eclipsing Billy Wagner's record with 32 straight saves. That year, he recorded a career-high 43 saves and a 1.85 ERA. However, his postseason performance was a mix of brilliance and heartbreak; he recorded three saves in the 2015 NLCS but set a World Series record by blowing three saves during that series.
The 2016 season saw him lead the National League in saves with 51, but his momentum was interrupted by a 15-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. His career later took him through several organizations, including the Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox. Despite various injuries, such as an arterial clot in his right shoulder in 2017, Familia remained a prominent figure in professional baseball for years.
By the time he reached the end of his major league tenure, Familia had played for several high-profile teams. His career is a testament to the transition from a non-drafted prospect to an elite reliever, navigating the intense pressures of closing games in the highest level of professional baseball.
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