Willie Adames (30), a shortstop and teammate of Lee Jung-hoo (27) of the San Francisco Giants, expressed disappointment toward his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers. After entering the free agent market following last season, he seemed to regret that there were no phone calls from the Brewers.

Before the home game against Milwaukee held on the 22nd (Korea time) at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, Adames stated in an interview with local reporters, including NBC Sports Bay Area, that he had not received any contact from Milwaukee after becoming a free agent.

Meeting Milwaukee for the first time after the trade, Adames said, "I have many good memories in Milwaukee. I met many great people, and the Brewers organization and the city helped me grow into the player I am today. They provided me with great support."

Adames, a right-handed shortstop from the Dominican Republic, debuted with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 and was traded to Milwaukee in May 2021. He hit 31 home runs in 2022, 24 in 2023, and 32 last year, growing into a power-hitting shortstop in Milwaukee. After becoming a free agent following last season, Adames drew attention as the ‘top shortstop’ and signed a record-setting contract with San Francisco for $182 million over seven years.

Although he landed a major contract, Adames still felt disappointed by the lack of a phone call from his former team, Milwaukee. He said, "There was no phone call. I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't be signing with Milwaukee. From the time discussions began with other teams, Milwaukee had no interest in me at all."

He continued, "I at least expected a phone call. I thought someone would ask me what I wanted, but they did nothing. It was shocking," adding that "The Milwaukee fans treated me really well. They made me feel at home there."

Milwaukee, a small-market team, originally lacked the resources to sign the ‘top shortstop’ Adames. While it was anticipated that Adames would leave Milwaukee, the absence of even a formal contact was unexpected.

However, looking at Adames' current performance, it seems there is a reason for Milwaukee's lukewarm approach. On this day, Adames was silent with no hits in four at-bats against Milwaukee. This year, in 23 games, he has a batting average of .194 (18 hits in 93 at-bats), with 1 home run, 11 RBIs, 12 runs, 9 walks, and 27 strikeouts, leading to a on-base percentage of .262, slugging percentage of .269, and an OPS of .531. He has been in the second batting order in every game, but he keeps ending opportunities in front of Lee Jung-hoo, who bats third.

Adames noted, "Personally, I tend to take time to find my hitting rhythm. If the team keeps winning, my individual performance doesn’t matter much. Of course, I want to do well, but until my batting improves, I want to contribute to the team in other ways. The important thing is that the team keeps winning." Despite his struggles, San Francisco, led by Lee Jung-hoo, is cruising with a record of 15 wins and 8 losses (.652 winning percentage).

Indeed, Adames has started slowly with a batting average of .221 and OPS of .677 for March and April, making him a slow starter. However, since it's his first year after a major free agent contract, he needs to show his skills quickly. He said, "Those who have watched my career know that I’ve traditionally struggled in April. I have had trouble for the first month and a half every year. I am working hard to find my hitting rhythm, and there’s no need to worry too much."

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