From Battlefield to Baseball: Joeshual Vélez Cuevas Named New Manager of the Hacendados

RINCÓN, PR — The Puerto Rico Collegiate Summer Baseball League announced today the hiring of Joeshual Vélez Cuevas as the new manager of the Hacendados for the 2026 season, bringing to the league a leader whose life has been defined by service, discipline, and a deep commitment to the holistic development of young athletes. Born in Yauco, Puerto Rico, Vélez Cuevas arrives with a background far from conventional in baseball: a career that bridges collegiate athletics, military service, and the demanding work of a firefighter-paramedic — three environments where leadership under pressure is not optional but essential.

Vélez Cuevas was a multi-year captain at Edward Waters University, where he established the foundation of his coaching philosophy: accountability, brotherhood, and discipline. After his collegiate playing career, he answered a higher calling by serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, later continuing his life of service as a firefighter-paramedic, experiences that shaped his perspective on resilience, teamwork, and the value of service to others. Those chapters ultimately brought him back full circle to the sport that shaped his roots.

“My purpose goes beyond baseball. In the Army and as a firefighter, I learned that true leadership is about service,” Vélez Cuevas said. “With the Hacendados, I’m not just here to teach technique; I’m here to build a brotherhood where every player takes responsibility for the success of the man next to him. We will compete with energy, discipline, and an unbreakable mindset — because that’s the only way to play and the only way to live.”

Vélez Cuevas began his coaching career at Cambridge Christian High School, specializing in pitcher and catcher development. He later founded The Catcher Medic, an advanced training program dedicated to developing catchers through a combination of technical instruction, mental preparation, and leadership training. He currently serves as a teacher and coach at Parrish Community High School, while also working within the Rhino Baseball program, where he leads 14U and 16U teams and collaborates with athletes from 8U to 18U. His expertise in development, communication, and mental strength makes him an invaluable addition to a growing franchise like the Hacendados.

According to Carlos Núñez, president of PRIBL Baseball, Vélez Cuevas represents a significant step forward for the league. “Joeshual brings more than baseball knowledge — he brings a life lesson. His approach, rooted in service, resilience, and discipline, aligns perfectly with the kind of holistic development PRIBL promotes. The Hacendados are in the hands of a true leader and mentor.”

Under Vélez Cuevas’s leadership, the Hacendados aim to do more than compete; they seek to build a lasting identity grounded in sacrifice, unity, and excellence. His arrival promises to transform the program into a space where players grow equally as athletes and as individuals.

Players interested in joining the 2026 PRIBL season may complete the official pre-registration form at: https://www.priblbaseball.com/pre-registration