Jordan Love set to host 25th Green Bay charity softball game
Jordan Love talks ahead of his charity softball game May 23 at Neuroscience Group Field in Grand Chute. The event raises money for Love’s Hands of 10ve Foundation.
When is the right time to make a career choice?
Elementary school? High school? College? Or even after that?
For Jeferson Figueroa of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the decision came early.
“When I was 14,” the native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, said about when he decided baseball was his career path. “In my country, when you’re 13 or 14, you’ve got to make a good decision on whether you want to do it for fun or go to the pros. I made that decision, and it was a pretty good choice.”
How did that work for him?
“In the Dominican Republic, major league teams contact you when you’re 12, 13 or 14 and they see how you have good approaches and all of that,” Figueroa said. “They get you a contract and then you sign it when you’re 16. That wasn’t my choice (in Venezuela). I came to the United States when I was 15 and got drafted in 2019. I was kind of different from everybody else.”
The 24-year-old Figueroa, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 32nd round of the 2019 draft.
The day Figueroa was drafted was special.
“I was just waiting,” he said. “It’s a three-day draft and on the third day, I was looking at the TV and a scout said, ‘Just to let you know, the next pick for the Brewers is going to be you.’ Then like two seconds later the phone rang and the Brewers picked me up. It was unbelievable.”
Still, leaving home at the age of 15 to live in Florida to pursue a dream that may or may not come to fruition, can’t be easy.
“When you have a purpose and you have a dream and you want to live it, I just went through everything and then no matter what happens, take it all in and get out there and get where you want to be,” Figueroa said.
Even though he hasn’t seen his family members since 2015, he does stay in close contact through What’sApp.
“Hopefully, I get to see them one of these days,” he said.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Figueroa is older than most prospects at the High-A level, but he’s posted good numbers in the past couple of seasons.
In 2024, while appearing in 22 games at Low-A Carolina and 10 games at High-A Wisconsin, he had a combined record of 8-3 with a 3.00 ERA. In 66 innings, he allowed 46 hits, struck out 80 batters and opponents had a .198 batting average.
Figueroa returned to the Timber Rattlers to start this season and has been working out of the bullpen. In six appearances, he’s thrown nine innings and has a 4.00 ERA.
“It’s a decision they made,” Figueroa said on working out of the bullpen. “I think that’s the best choice they made for me. I’ll put the work in and it’s working.”
Over the course of 225⅔ minor league innings, he has a 4.34 ERA but has struck out 266 batters. Control has been an issue as he’s walked 128 batters.
“I’m a guy who trusts himself to go out there and whatever the game situation is, let the catcher call it,” Figueroa said. “The catcher has been there, so I just let him tell me. I just want to make sure I have my best stuff when I get out there on the mound.”
Figueroa said he and the Brewers coaches have been working on a lot of things, but mostly are trying to get him to not be too hard on himself.
“Sometimes I get too picky,” he said. “Too picky with my stuff. The coaches say, ‘Don’t be too picky early in the count because that’s when you get in trouble.’ I just lay those first pitches in there, get to two strikes and then I can get picky.”
5 questions with Jeferson Figueroa
If you hadn’t chosen baseball as a career, what would your choice have been?
“In my country, it’s not easy to choose to do this or choose to do that. We don’t have that many choices. I’d like to play soccer if I didn’t play baseball. If not sports, I’d work on any kind of farm.”
What was the favorite thing to do in your hometown of Barquisimeto, Venezuela?
“It’s been 14 years since I’ve been there. I didn’t used to go out, but I’d say going to the stores was fun.”
Your favorite dish that you wish you could make or have your mom make for you?
“She makes great arepas. My mom makes some good ones.”
What do you do for fun on your off days?
“It depends on if I pitch on Sunday and I’m kind of tired, I’ll chill at home. If I didn’t pitch, I’ll go out some place for golf. I love golf. It’s a good sport where you don’t have to overthink.”
Are you a dog or cat person?
“Dog. I have a poodle named Lula.”