Picture this鈥攜ou鈥檙e at the ballpark watching baseball on a sunny afternoon. Then,
over the loudspeaker, Daddy Yankee鈥檚 Gasolina begins to play. Number 24 walks toward
the plate. In the stands, fans start to dance鈥攕ome even sing along. Suddenly, everyone鈥檚
attention turns to the plate to see what will happen next.
This is the story for every at-bat for NPC鈥檚 Jesus Minjarez. A former Lakeside Ram-turned-Nighthawk,
the Spa City superstar has a knack for delivering big moments in the spotlight.
鈥淲hen I played at Lakeside High School, I had a Daddy Yankee song as my walkup song,
and I noticed that it always gave me a boost at the plate,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淪o, I
decided to bring it to NPC with me. The upbeat sound boosts my confidence and relaxes
me so that when I step into the batter鈥檚 box, everything else leaves my mind.鈥�
Minjarez鈥檚 journey to NPC started in Mexico, and his road to junior college stardom
wasn鈥檛 without its challenges.
鈥淚 was born in Mexico and moved to Arkansas when I was four years old,鈥� Minjarez said.
鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 know any English and we definitely struggled because of it. Back
then, I didn鈥檛 have a teacher that could teach me how to speak English so I spent
my free time watching TV to learn the language. Eventually, I got to the point where
I could communicate in English and my parents would bring me with them everywhere
they went to help translate.鈥�
At Lakeside, Minjarez was well-known for punishing pitchers at the plate. In his senior
season with the Rams, Minjarez boasted
a .367 batting average, leading the team in home runs and doubles and drawing the
attention of colleges across Arkansas.
鈥淸Coach Leighton Hardin] was one of those coaches that wanted to win,鈥� Minjarez said.
鈥淲e kept that mentality throughout the way and it helped me strive for that next level.鈥�
Recruited by former NPC baseball head coach Dillon Hargrove, Minjarez leapt at the
opportunity to make history in an already-historic baseball city.
鈥淏aseball in Hot Springs is something that goes way back,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淲hen I
heard that NPC wanted to bring college baseball to Hot Springs, I knew that I wanted
to be a part of that. I wanted to help get the program started where I could succeed
and pave the way for others to come succeed with me, too.鈥�
Three years later, Minjarez ranks in the Nighthawks鈥� top three all-time in runs scored,
RBI, hits and home runs and reflects on the growth of a program he helped build from
the ground up.
鈥淥ur program has evolved tremendously,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淔rom our talent to our coaching,
it鈥檚 evolved faster than anyone expected. Coach Thompson and our assistant coaches
have done a great job recruiting players who know how to play so that we can turn
our program into something special.鈥�
鈥淲e are proud that Jesus chose to be a Nighthawk,鈥� NPC Athletic Director Jason Hudnell
said. 鈥淚t is always satisfying when we see our hometown student-athletes choose to
stay close to home to further their education. Jesus has been an excellent leader,
both on and off the field.鈥�
With 15 long bombs last year, Minjarez helped propel NPC to 118 home runs last season鈥攖he
most for any NJCAA Division II team in the nation.
鈥淚t brings everyone to the baseball games,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淲e talk to plenty of people
around the community and they try to come watch every game to see what we鈥檙e going
to do next. Having the community鈥檚 support has played a big role in our success as
a program.鈥�
With former MLB pitcher Rich Thompson at the helm for the Nighthawks, Minjarez is
inspired to take his talents to new heights.
鈥淧laying under Coach Thompson has been good,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淓very once in a while,
he tells us a story about the league and it inspires us to want to get to that next
level. He knows a lot about the game and brings a good environment. He鈥檚 always joking
around in practice, keeping spirits up and never trying to tear us down.鈥�
鈥淛esus has brought on-the-field leadership with his clutch hitting and ability to
control the game from behind the plate,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淗e has also brought a great
local presence and helped our guys from everywhere feel comfortable here in Hot Springs.鈥�
This season, the Nighthawks migrate their nest to a new home鈥擧ot Springs鈥� freshly-built
Majestic Park baseball complex.
鈥淢ajestic Park is fantastic and playing there means a lot,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淚 remember
growing up and playing on those fields at the Hot Springs Boys and Girls Club and
they weren鈥檛 very nice. Seeing a new turf on the field and having the train pass by
in the background is special. Playing there means a lot鈥攏ot only for us, but for every
kid in Hot Springs.鈥�
Despite his accomplishments so far, Minjarez believes the best is yet to come for
the high-flying Nighthawks.
鈥淗anging up a banner is something that鈥檚 on everyone鈥檚 minds,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淢y
goal this year is to try to go to the next level. I want to leave NPC with putting
my name on something鈥攎aybe it鈥檚 the home run leaderboard鈥攕omething where people will
look up and see my name and know that I accomplished something great in my time here.鈥�
For Minjarez, his dreams of success go beyond the diamond.
鈥淭hroughout my career, I definitely wanted to do better to help my parents get whatever
they needed,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淢y parents didn鈥檛 graduate high school. I was the very
first person in my family to graduate high school. Now, I鈥檓 trying to be the first
person in my family to graduate college. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 striving for鈥攂eing a leader
not only for me and my parents, but also for my little cousins. I want to be a positive
role model for them, too.鈥�
Off the field, Minjarez is preparing for the future by pursuing a business degree
at NPC.
鈥淚 want to work for myself when I get older,鈥� Minjarez said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to work
for anyone else. I want to run a business, make some money and give back to my parents
and my family.鈥�
Jesus Minjarez and the 黑料福利社 Nighthawks open their 2022 season at
home against Central Baptist College on Monday, Jan. 31 at 12 p.m.
