From a young fan fascinated by Derek Jeter’s genius to a $182 million foundation of the San Francisco Giants, the path has been a dream come true. For this athlete, meeting his hero gave that desire more meaning. And he is once again embracing a number which belonged to his inspiration. What’s so special about it? Ask him what’s not special about it.
This sensation goes beyond the dazzling lights or the fans’ roar. It’s about a number. One digit with the profound link to the hero who inspired it all, the echo of greatness, and the weight of history. Wearing Jeter’s famous number 2 jersey, he now walks onto the field with the motivation and the desire to represent that legendary figure with the same degree of greatness. Sounds like a die-hard fan? Well, he is!
The Giants’ shortstop, Willy Adames, is the player who carries a weight of inspiration. In an interview, he expressed his respect for baseball great Derek Jeter and said that meeting his idol in 2023 was a dream come true. Wearing the number 2 jersey—a number associated with Jeter—he now feels a great sense of duty. He said, “I mean, that’s a dream for me to had the number two. When I got to meet him, it was just a dream come true for me, and now that I am wearing number two. I feel like something I always wanted to, and now that I am able to do it, I am trying to represent that number at the highest level because he represented the best, he is the best, and I just want to be remembered as close to how people remember him now. I know I am not gonna get there, but I wanna be as close as I can to be remember as the people remember him.”
When Adames met Jeter back in 2023, he also had the same respect. When asked about it at the time, he said, “That’s a moment I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid. You meet your idol, the guy that you admire since you were little, the guy you want to be like. … For me to finally have that, it’s incredible. I don’t even know how to describe it.”
Do you know Adames signed the largest contract in the history of the Giants? A seven-year contract for $182 million. What made the Giants offer him such a great contract? His 2024 numbers! He had a career-best 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers after a committed early career. He finished in the top ten of the National League MVP voting and was noticed by clubs around the league. The Dominican athlete’s rise to the majors is a testament to perseverance and love.
As the season unfolds, the Giants’ gamble of acquiring Adames has so far been in the club’s favour. His Homers have been magnificent. It looks like he is doing justice to the jersey number!
Adames’ power surge: Giants’ star shortstop
On Sunday, Willy Adames made a remarkable effort that helped the San Francisco Giants to a 9-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. Marking his eighth career multi-homer game, Adames hit solo home runs in each of his first two at-bats. He just missed a third homer in the fifth inning and instead settled for an RBI double off the right-center wall. These three RBIs matched his season best and indicated a possible recovery following a difficult beginning to the season.
Logan Webb (4-2) offered consistency on the mound, throwing seven innings and permitting only one run on six hits. After giving a season-high five runs in his last game against San Diego, this effort was a significant turnaround. Webb’s command and composure were clear as he struck out six and only walked two, which helped the Giants to a 3-1 series victory over the Rockies.
Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores each had two-RBI hits in a crucial four-run seventh inning, which helped to further strengthen the Giants’ offensive. This explosive outburst let the Giants sail to victory by providing a comfortable cushion. Adames’ comeback at the plate, together with Webb’s consistent pitching, highlights the possible influence of the Giants’ major offseason signing as the club tries to gain momentum in the next weeks.
The narrative of number two and Willy Adames continues. However, the early chapters show a player driven by admiration to make his mark on the game while inspired by a legend. As he continues his career with the Giants, will he be able to reach close to what Jeter did?
The post Giddy Giants $182M Star Opens Up on “Dream Come True” Moment With Idol Derek Jeter & Rocking the Captain’s Number appeared first on EssentiallySports.
