Youngest Midwest League player is one of Tigers' best

COMSTOCK PARK - The last thing that West Michigan Whitecaps shortstop Willy Adames resembles is a teenager.

One of most promising middle infielders in the Detroit Tigers' system, Adames has gone from batting a modest .258 in his 17-game professional debut a year ago to becoming the youngest position player in the Midwest League and MLB.com's third-best prospect in the Tigers' organization.

Adames said he's played baseball since his father handed him a glove when he was 5. He was playing competitively a year later, went on to Little League in the Dominican Republic and was eventually signed by the Tigers for a $420,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

Not bad for someone who doesn't turn 19 until Sept. 2.

"I said in spring training that all I wanted to do is my best and I think I have," Adames said. "But I need to get better and help the team win."

Adames has more than held his own at this level. A last-minute addition to the roster coming out of spring training, Adames is batting .272 and is second on the team with 50 RBIs. He's shown a little pop with the bat with 14 doubles and is one triple away from tying Michael Hollimon's club-record of 13 in 2006.

Adames admits it has taken time to adjust to professional baseball, but he's on the fast track. MLB.com projects him as major league-ready by 2017. At 18 years old, Adames said he's comfortable with playing defense, hitting a fastball and how to react to curves and sliders. But Adames admits he needs work on fundamentals and learning to mentally handle a prolonged slump.

Whitecaps manager Andrew Graham said Adames, who has gone from speaking little English to perfectly carrying on a conversation in his second language, has exceeded expectations.

"He's having a great season, he's got something special about him," Graham said. "For an 18-year-old kid, he fits right in and doesn't take anything to heart. What leaps out about him is his baseball instinct, knowledge and ability to adjust."

Maybe part of that is because Adames said he's styled himself after his idol, Derek Jeter. Adames has never met the Yankees shortstop, but admires how he carries himself, how he plays the game and how the public responds to him.

"It's hard because you have to respond to everyone and do your best (toward people)," Adames said of being a professional baseball player. "He's a good person."

Adames said he can't imagine doing anything else besides being a professional baseball player, but in the last month he's been exposed to one of the game's most difficult parts. With the Tigers seeking bullpen help and possibly an additional bat, Adames' name has allegedly come up as part of trade talks.

"That's part of the game," Adames said. "I don't think about it. But if a trade happens, I'll still be playing baseball. But you can't think about it."

Another part of the game that Adames said he doesn't think about is what position he'll play as he advances up the minor league ladder. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, there is a possibility he may outgrow the shortstop position. He has played some third base in his career and could wind up at second base. Adames thinks of himself as a shortstop, but will do whatever it takes to become a major leaguer.

"I don't focus on that, I just play," he said of position changes. "I'll do whatever they tell me, but my favorite position by far is shortstop. If they move me, that's okay."

NOTE: Adames was traded to the Tampa Rays on Friday, July 31 as part of the trade the brought David Price to Detroit. He is currently with the Bowling Green Hot Rods in the Midwest League.