Jesús Madé, a slugger for the Milwaukee Brewers and the organization’s number one prospect, was selected as the first pick of the Licey Tigers in the 2025 Rookie Draft of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), held this Wednesday.
At just 18 years old, Madé is considered the player with the highest upside in this draft class, also ranking number 5 among all minor‑league prospects of MLB.
Originally from San Cristóbal, Madé stands 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 181 pounds and is noted for his speed, making him a constant threat on the bases. In 112 games he has stolen 46 bases, cementing this skill as one of his primary offensive weapons.
Regarding his hitting performance, Madé posts a .288 average over 441 plate appearances, with an on‑base percentage of .383 and an OPS of .803. His “scouting” report states: “He is able to make contact on 89% of his swings, demonstrating plate mastery. One thing is making good swing decisions and another is hitting with power behind the batters. Madé also achieved a 47% hard‑hit rate and an exit velocity of 166.4 km/h (103.9 mph, 90th percentile); the latter would put him on par with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and José Ramírez at this time”.
From a defensive standpoint, Madé has spent the majority of his time at shortstop, though he has also seen action at third and second base. “His strong arm fits perfectly in the hot corner, and at this early stage it’s still possible that he will slide there full‑time in the future. For now, Milwaukee wants Madé to have every opportunity to stay at SS, which would add another level to his already considerable potential, even with all the drawbacks of his youth”.
The young shortstop was signed in January 2024 as an international free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers, with a signing bonus of $950,000.
