Return of the Yedi

The quiet confidence Yedlimar De Jesus exhibits as she leans back in a chair inside Monroe University’s cramped athletic office provides just a glimpse into the bulldog attitude the diminutive right-hander takes with her to the mound.

De Jesus, who won’t turn 18 until November 20^th, is in full uniform with her hat pulled down deep on her brow. There’s no hesitation as she answers questions, no self-doubt as she talks about throwing fastballs and changing speeds on her pitches with the knowledge and enthusiasm of someone who has been playing ball for years.

And, she has been. It’s baseball, however, not softball that has captivated De Jesus and it is baseball that has brought her from her native Puerto Rico to this small, New Rochelle, N.Y.-based school, which sits just blocks away from the Long Island Sound. That she has made it this far is a testament to that confidence and it is that self-assurance that she hopes will someday also push her into the professional ranks.

As grand a dream as that is, and it is a lofty goal she has set, De Jesus prefers to focus on the here and now and leave the bigger dream for a quiet moment down the road. The here and now is pitching for the Mustangs, a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) school that will become an NCAA Division II program beginning in the fall of 2026.

De Jesus is not unique in that there have been several women who have played collegiate baseball in the United States at every level. The NCAA does not track how many women have played baseball; she is the first female player in the Monroe program’s history.

While De Jesus likely won’t have a spot on the varsity roster come the spring season [she’ll play on the junior varsity team], the grit and savvy she’s shown up until now leaves those she encounters with the thought that anything is possible with this teenager.

“It’s not a publicity stunt or anything like that at all,” said Monroe head coach John Torres, a retired New York City police officer who played collegiately at Wagner College and The College of Staten Island in the 1980s. “If she wasn’t talented, we wouldn’t have brought her here. If she didn’t know what she was doing and she wasn’t going to help our JV team, she could get hurt. We knew it was a big risk bringing her here. And, sure, there are always people that think she doesn’t belong on a guy’s team. But if anybody can handle it, she can handle it.”

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT BASEBALL

De Jesus has been handling it for almost entire life. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico and began playing baseball when she was 5, following in the footsteps of her older brother. She fell in love with the game and followed Puerto Rican stars such Franciso Lindor and Edwin Diaz [more on them later].

“My brothers and my family are athletes and that’s how I got into baseball,” De Jesus said. “I have one brother, Edgar, who played until he was 12. My family was very supportive and they didn’t disagree with [me playing] baseball. They were big supporters.”

De Jesus played baseball whenever she could, often times against older boys, gaining their respect along the way. She eschewed softball despite overtures from adults who thought she should be playing the more traditional female sport. De Jesus stayed true to her passion, though, dealing with disrespectful opposing parents and some misogynistic attitudes, ultimately trying out for and earning a spot at the Alberque Olimpico Baseball Academy [AOBA] in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

“It wasn’t that hard to get into the tryout,” she said. “They said we want the girl.”

When De Jesus arrived at AOBA, which is also a five-year high school, she played middle infield, holding her own at both shortstop and second base. She was the only girl in the academy but that didn’t matter to her. She showed off her arm and as a result, began pitching when she was in the 9^th grade, ultimately serving as a two-way player.

De Jesus became the AOBA closer and started drawing attention, both in Puerto Rico and the U.S., when she began attending baseball showcases and tryouts in both countries. It was during one of these showcases – The I-95 Metro Select Showcase in July 2024 at Montclair [NJ] State University – that Torres first noticed her.

“I looked at the roster and didn’t see any girls names because I couldn’t pronounce her name and I’m Spanish,” said Torres, who added that her teammates have nicknamed her Yedi. “I saw her walking around and thought this is interesting. A buzz had started because she was the only girl there. Coaches can go in the dugouts and I watched her from the dugout and saw that she has skills on the mound. She didn’t throw hard but she knew how to handle herself.

“It was crazy. I saw her throw a bullpen the day before and a she pitched in a game the second day. She has a good curve and she carried herself well; she struck out a couple of guys.”

Torres spoke with De Jesus and her mother and ultimately asked her to come to Monroe. She committed before her senior season, spending her final year in Puerto Rico playing for AOBA and with Arecibo of the Puerto Rican Women’s Baseball League. She’s also played in some tournaments in the states before heading to New York at the end of August.

“I went to the showcase by getting sponsors from different people,” De Jesus said. “I got to be there and showcase my talent. [Monroe athletic recruiter] Mike Morales Merced gave me an offer for softball in the 10^th grade but the main offer was baseball. I actually achieved my goal.”

It was that achievement that was celebrated by many in Puerto Rico, including singer Bad Bunny [Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio] who heralded her arrival at Monroe with a social media announcement. His brother, Bysael Martinez Ocasio, also played baseball for the Mustangs three years ago before embarking on a culinary career.

NEW YORK NEW YORK

De Jesus arrived in New Rochelle in August and her life has been a whirlwind since, between baseball, classes and having somewhat of a celebrity status around campus.

“The first week was kind of difficult because I didn’t have my mom or brothers here,” De Jesus said. “The temperature here is really cold. I don’t like being cold. I miss my mom, my grandmother and my brothers but I’m here playing baseball and studying, so I am not wasting time.

“The treatment I got from the guys was a surprise. In Puerto Rico, it was very different because everyone had known me for years. When I got here the first week was kind of difficult. They didn’t know me. But when we got to the first scrimmage and I got to pitch, and they saw I could, the team got more together. I was scared how they would react or treat me so I am very grateful.”

That De Jesus can hold her own on the mound has eliminated any doubts that some people may have had. She’s only 5-foot-5 and weighs around 115 pounds so she needs to work on gaining more strength. Her fastball velocity sits in the low-to-mid 70s and she throws a changeup in the mid-60s, so there is separation between the pitches.

Torres added that she has a good 12-to-6 curve but that she needs to get her fastball up to around 80. She is also being converted to a starting pitcher and will no longer play the field.

“I have to gain more weight and strengthen my arm,” said De Jesus, who added that she is working on incorporating a slider into her repertoire. “They have me on a throwing program. I was at 71-72 and now I am at 74-75 constantly. The pitching program here is very good and it’s increasing my velocity. I think I can throw 80 if I keep going and keep doing the program.”

De Jesus has had an effective fall, throwing several scoreless innings over the course of several appearances.

“By her junior year if she bulks up a little and gets that fastball close to 80, I may bring her up as long as the curveball continues working to keep guys off balance,” Torres said. “People ask how can she have a changeup if her fastball is only 72 miles-per-hour but her change is 65 so she’ll get a lot of popups. She pitches a lot to contact and has great guys behind her to catch the ball.

“Her stuff moves but if her secondary stuff isn’t working and she has to rely on her fastball, it could be a long day. That’s why we have to develop that fastball. Once the season is done she’ll be in the weight room full time and with [pitching coach] Anthony [Piccolino] showing her new stuff, I think the sky is the limit.”

Torres’ is cautiously optimistic about what De Jesus can ultimately accomplish. He has been impressed, though, with her baseball acumen and her determination.

“I just need her to get a little thicker because the guys are going to get bigger as they move along,” Torres said. “I have seen her catch guys who throw 90 but I want to wait until she gets a little stronger before I put her in [to a game] against those guys.

“She fields her position well and has the instinct and reactions so hopefully we will see the development.”

As for life outside campus, De Jesus has been enjoying all New York has to offer, including taking in a game at Citi Field in September as part of her sports management class. She got to meet some of the players she idolized growing up [Diaz and Lindor] along with Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and manager Carolos Mendoza.

The encouragement she got from them only strengthened her resolve. While the fall season provided just a glimpse of who she is and how she handles herself it was more than enough for those who have met her and seen her play.

“She’s a lion out there,” Monroe’s assistant athletic director Francis Santos said. “She’s going to get you out and she does it with a smile. She’s so confident with her stuff. I’ve seen her get the batter to pop up and she’s walking off the mound already [before the ball is caught]. She’s very interesting to watch.”