At just 9-years-old and not speaking any English, Jehiel Aviles made the move to Aberdeen and the Smittys are grateful he did.

The standout senior grew up in Puerto Rico and made the move with his parents after hurricanes struck their home. He grew up in a baseball family thanks to his father and grandpa.

“Being from a place that the main sport’s kind of baseball, my grandpa was really into baseball, so then my dad got into it. And since I was 3-years-old, my dad put me in it and then I just fell in love with the freedom that baseball brings,” said Aviles. “Times were rough in Puerto Rico due to hurricanes and stuff, so my parents wanted to move and start somewhere new for jobs. And then my mom got a job opportunity, same with my dad here, so then we just moved here.”

Aviles struggled being comfortable in his new home as he did not speak English yet, which put a hold on him playing baseball.

“When I moved there, I didn’t know English or anything. But then at school I was known as an athletic kid and stuff like that. A couple people wanted me to play baseball and I was just scared, because I didn’t know English and then maybe like a year or two years into me being here is when I started playing for the Smittys,” Aviles said. “At first, it was really frustrating. It was something I thought I would never get over it, and my mom always told me to just go out there and I was going to get better, but I didn’t see it like that. It was really frustrating because I had been playing baseball my entire life, so then I would sit at home, frustrated.”

Once the younger Aviles made the jump to get back on the baseball field, he was met with welcoming arms and a group of people that not only helped him on the field, but with learning the language.

“As I start going outside more and I started practicing with Smittys players and getting people to be with me and support me through it all, like Karson Borge, one of the players I play with right now, is one of the first people that I met through baseball,” said Aviles. “Me just going out and just realizing that people were gonna stick with me no matter what the language was, they were just gonna help me, so then it just allowed me just to be confident, trust my talents and trust the process that I could make it far and learn English on the way.”

He had a couple parent figures that helped him along the way as well.

“Mainly was just ESL teachers at school were really a big part. And then Zane Backous’s dad (Cory), he was a really big part of that, just got me into the Smittys program. Same with Eric Borge. They were really two huge parts of me being able to just be part of the Smittys,” said Aviles. “And my mom knowing English. My mom always moved around and stuff and learned English in Puerto Rico. She was also a good push and help me and teaching me that, little by little, time by time, and it just got better with time.”

Although Aviles moved away when he was 9, the Puerto Rican culture made such an impact on him that he misses it.

“I mostly miss the culture. The music, the food, the people, how they find a passion for everything. Whether it’s sports, music, anything,” said Aviles. “People over there just try to make fun and find happiness in anything they do, so that’s probably one of the biggest things that I miss. And for sure the beach.”

Watching Aviles play, you can see that joy that he talks about in Puerto Rican culture.

Part of that allows him to enjoy an under-appreciated part of the game.

“I don’t know if a lot of people would say this, but one of my favorite things about baseball is base running,” said Aviles. “Most people say hitting or fielding or something, but for me, it’s just base running, because I feel it brings a lot of energy and fun to the game that a lot of people might not see.”

Aviles said that he plays like one of his favorite players, Javier Baez, who is also Puerto Rican. Baez makes highlight plays whether it’s taking bases or making flashy tags, and that is also evident in Aviles.

“One of my favorite players is Javy Baez, and it’s just due to that that, well I’m a lefty both ways, so I don’t play shortstop or anything, but the way that he carries himself, the way he runs the bases,” said Aviles. “The way he brings energy on the bases, and I just think it’s a good way to bring energy to the baseball game and fun for the fans.”

With the regular season over for the Smittys and playoffs beginning on Wednesday, Aviles has trust in the process to help the Smittys extend their season.

“Just trust in the process that I’ve been working on. All the late practices and all the times I spent with my dad. Just trusting that and knowing that any chance and any opportunity will help my team,” said Aviles. “As a leadoff, if I need to get a walk, I’ll try to get a walk. If I need to just put the ball in play and trust that anything will happen by doing that, I feel like just trusting the process that we all have put as a team also will take us a long way.”

As he wraps up this last push, Aviles is just grateful to play the game he loves while being healthy and enjoying the final moments.

“I’m grateful. Just thankful God has allowed me to play the game that I love for so much with no injuries and just being protected through it all,” said Aviles. “I just have been trying to focus on the last couple of weeks just to appreciate every single opportunity that I get.”

There have been many moments in his Smittys career that he has appreciated.

“For sure the overnight trips. One of them this year was Omaha being able to go to the college world series with my teammates and just get to experience that at the next level, you’re just seeing how the next level players prepare and how they carry themselves,” said Aviles. “A couple years ago when we won regions, that was also fun. Being able to help out with the younger kids has always been on my mind as one of my best memories.”

Aviles might have a couple more memories to make as he’s currently pondering a few options as his season wraps up.

“I got a couple options. Colleges that want me to play. I still haven’t made a decision yet due to me kind of being young. I’m a 2008, so I still have a super senior,” Aviles said. “So right now I’m between going to work or Crown College, but just having an opportunity to maybe come back next year and play another year for the Smittys.”