Exclusive Interview with MLB’s Jose Mota

We had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with MLB’s Jose Mota, which we will relate to below.

The sporting world just doesn’t feel the same without the backdrop of Major League Baseball taking place in the late spring and early summer. But in our COVID-19-altered reality, that’s unfortunately the world we all live in, within the United States (if not all over the world).

Life is particularly different for those involved in the MLB world (albeit not in a playing capacity), like Dominican-born play-by-play announcer José Mota of the Los Angeles Angels. Without the daily responsibilities of baseball, suddenly that makes things very different this time of year.

In an exclusive interview with HomeBleachers.com, we were able to see just how Mota has been spending this newly-available time.

“I’ve been enjoying my time at home a lot, something that we all crave so much in our business during the grind of the baseball season,” Mota responded, when asked about how he’s spending his time away from baseball because of the COVID-19 situation.

“I truly treasure and value this time with my wife of 32 years. I’ve stayed busy with certain routines, such as time in the Word, meditation and my morning fitness program; now more long walks with my wife and our dog, a little yoga in the garage, babysitting our grandson (17 months old), and a lot of cooking. I love cooking, so this time has allowed me to experiment with a lot of new recipes (especially from Bon Appétit, TipHero, and NYTimes). I’ve been doing my Thursday #MotaMinute Twitter-chat, Wednesday’s Instagram Live (Josie and the Sinker Master) with Mark Gubicza, I’ve done plenty of interviews, and watched a lot of streaming on TV.”

As much as Mota may be enjoying this time away from the game, he certainly had his thoughts about the MLB – and the states it’s played in – being resumed or reopened.

I would love for baseball to be back by [July 4th],” said Mota. “It would be great for our nation and for the baseball world globally, as it would provide a huge lift to the spirits and to the overall well-being of so many souls. Hopefully there will be a resolution under the safest of circumstances for everyone involved, not just for the players. We need baseball back, badly.”

In terms of which states it could or should be played in, with some states like Arizona moving faster towards such a decision versus a state like California?

“That’s a question where many of us wish we could know more about what these decisions, either way, are based on” Mota opined. “To me, the balance between the safety of not propelling the virus and the freedom we all enjoy it’s tough to put a finger on right now. Safety and the well-being of all citizens is first in my book, and I pray that the Lord will provide everyone with the wisdom to do what’s right for our brethren.”

Moving the conversation away from COVID-19, Mota was also quite forthcoming when talking about his baseball lineage, and things he recalls from the playing days of his father (veteran coach Manny Mota of the Los Angeles Dodgers).

In the interview with MLB’s Jose Mota, he said “That love started from the day I was born, I feel” about his love for the game. ”At three months old I’m being held by not only my dad as a successful Major Leaguer, but also by top names like Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillen, and many others. As I grew up, while attending school, I really enjoyed seeing the baseball game as my dad’s job, so my thirst for the game grew as my dad exposed my brothers and I to his marvelous world from the inside. We loved every trip to the ballpark with the Dodgers, playing catch with dad and my brothers in the back yard, playing pepper, and watching my dad play. We had a very blessed baseball upbringing, and got the best example of how to work at it diligently from my father.”

“I recalled how cool it was that my dad always discussed his at-bats with us on our drive home in the Mota station wagon after the game. He’d share his thinking process, his approach, the opponent, and also how he had handled the questions from the media after the game, whether he had come through or not. I learned a lot on how to be generous with the fans by the way he was so personable with them. Back then, fans could approach the player’s cars, since they knew where players parked, and run right up to their window for pictures and autographs, or even to hand out an appreciation letter. I loved those moments, especially watching how patient my dad was in making sure that every kid got an autograph.”

Of course, for a guy like Mota, who is so fully steeped in baseball, he definitely ensures that it’s not the only thing going on in his life. If nothing else, when we asked Mota about what else he has going on outside the sports world, he demonstrated a very solid grasp of “life outside of baseball.”

“My main interest is to walk close to God, and enjoy His leading found in the Word every day. Being able to share the blessings with those in need means a lot to me and to my family, so charitable outreach truly moves my heart,” Mota said.

“In business, I’ve been involved in Real Estate investments since I was 20 years old, and it’s an area/sector that I really enjoy. I invested from my signing bonus to purchase my first property right after I was drafted and thankfully I’ve had wonderful mentors and advisors in the business world. I love airplanes, sports cars, and traveling the globe.”

We hope you enjoyed reading about our interview with MLB’s Jose Mota. It was an amazing experience with many details and experiences from Jose’s life. You can also read more here.