Devin Williams beats Ohtani, Betts and Freeman with 7 shots
Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams needed just 7 pitches to take out Ohtani, Betts and Freeman of the Dodgers and secure a 5-4 victory.
Joel Payamps throws well again.
After a slow start to the season – his earned run average only rose to 4.68 in early July – Payamps looked more like the lockdown pitcher he was for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. Since July 9, he has allowed two hits and one run in his 12 appearances, lowering his season ERA to 3.71 – arguably the Brewers’ best reliever during that time. The uncertainty about his status on the roster has quickly dissipated and he is suddenly one of manager Pat Murphy’s most reliable pitchers again.
This is the life of a major league relief pitcher.
Sudden changes are nothing new for Payamps. He is pitching for his fifth major league team in six seasons and has been part of seven organizations in total.
As if he didn’t already have enough to do alongside his job as a professional footballer and father of three daughters, Payamps has also thrown himself into the real estate industry: he renovates apartments in his home country, the Dominican Republic, and rents them out.
During the Brewers’ home game, he spoke with Curt Hogg of the Journal Sentinel. The answers were translated from Spanish.
As a major league pitcher, you probably don’t have a lot of free time, but what do you do when you’re not working?
Number of amps: Yes, I have a busy schedule. I have some time to do what I want, but not always because I have to work out every day. When I’m done working out or training, I often have to do other work on my apartments. I run to the store to buy everything I need for the apartments, fix things, and do other things. As a family, we love going to the beach in the Dominican Republic.
What is your favorite home improvement store?
Number of amps: In the Dominican Republic, there is no Home Depot or anything like that. People tend to go to Ferretería Ochoa or Ferretería La Fuente, Carlos Gomez’s store.
Wait, Carlos Gomez’s store? The baseball player?
Number of amps: Yes. Ferretería La Fuente. They have everything you need to work on the homes. Cement, all kinds of glue, building materials, everything. All those things. Everything you need. I buy all my materials in their store. There’s only one, and it’s in Santiago, where my homes are.
There’s a “Hang Loose” sign on your glove. What’s behind it?
Number of amps: I’m not sure if it has a deeper meaning. I saw it on 44’s (glove manufacturer’s) website and I liked it. That’s all. My other glove has a cross on it.
The life of a reliever is naturally an up and down. What do you think of your season this year?
Number of amps: Fight. I’ve been fighting. I started a little slow, but I’ve kept working hard to finish strong and make sure I stay on the team. I know there’s been ups and downs, but I just want to help the team. And I’ve been working really hard every day so I can finish the season stronger than other years. But this year it’s been a little slower for me, I know, but I’m focused on finishing strong.
You throw pretty much all year long. Is that your goal, to finish strong?
Number of amps: Of course. I’m going to finish strong. That’s all I’m working towards right now and I’m feeling better than I have this year. It’s been a little slow but you have to keep improving so you can help the team get to where we want to go.
You’ve played for seven teams as a professional now and this is your second year with Milwaukee. Is that the longest you’ve spent with a major league team?
Number of amps: Colorado, who I signed with in 2010 (when I was 16) and stayed with until 2015. So that’s where I was the longest, but I never made it to the big leagues with them. But here in the big leagues, yeah, two years is the longest I’ve spent with one team. It’s difficult.
What’s the biggest challenge of changing teams so often? Is it baseball related or is it off the field?
Number of amps: The practical side. It’s not great. It’s hard. You’re always thinking about your family. I have to move my family from one state to another and that can be very stressful and challenging to take the family and move and have to change and move. When we were in Toronto, we had to move in the middle of the season with my wife and daughters. That was really difficult when you have to move with your family. It can be quite a hassle.
How old are your daughters?
Number of amps: 10, 4 and 2.
What do you like most about being a father of girls?
Number of amps: It’s great. I love it. When I come home, my girls just want to play with me. When I’ve had a bad day, being home makes me realize what’s most important to me and my family. It’s something that changes my mood.
Are these daddy’s daughters?
Number of amps: Oh, of course.
