As we prepare to witness the best of the National League face the best of the American, we bring you an exclusive interview with first time All-Star Jeurys Familia. The NY Mets Dominican righthander will be making his debut in this year’s summer classic.  Familia was recently honored by Hennessy VSOP Privilege for his outstanding stats this year, and for helping lead the Mets to the National League championship in 2015. The MLB All Star Game takes place on Tuesday July 12 at 8PM(ET) and airs on FOX .

HOMBRE : Let’s start with the event tonight, how do you feel about being honored by Hennessy?
Jeurys Familia: I’m very happy. I thank Hennessy for recognizing me and bringing me here. It’s something very special for me and for my family.

H: How do you see the season developing for the Mets?
JF: I see it very well. We’ve gone through ups and downs but right now we have the same record we had last year. A lot can happen. We’re very happy as a team and we know that we can do well. I think this year we’re going to go to the same place we went last year and win it all.

H:  Did you ever imagine you would be where you are now?
JF:  Never. Never in my life. First, the sport I enjoyed was basketball, baseball never interested me. I started playing it at 15 because all my friends went to play baseball, and I was alone in the basketball court. I just went to have fun, I didn’t go to be a pro player. But when God blessed me and I signed in 2007 I said to myself that I was going to work hard, give my best, become someone, and represent my family and my nation. And thank God I’m here.

H: Who were some of the players you admired growing up?
JF: When I started I used to like Pedro Martinez, because my father was a Boston fan. Then I began to feel admiration for each of the Latin players because I was playing and I knew it wasn’t easy to get to the big leagues. Being in the minor leagues was difficult. There were times when one didn’t even have money to buy food, but I remained strong and worked hard, with faith in God.

H: What is your advice to achieve success?
JF: My first advice would be education. If one’s disciplined and has education one can go far, in any field. Education means so much to me, and should to each one of us. With an education you have so many opportunities. With education, discipline, and hard work you can achieve success.

H: Father’s day just happened, how has having children changed your life?
JF: Having children has changed my life for good. I feel I have a human being for whom to fight. I have my wife, I also have my parents with me. I thank God every day. My family is everything to me. I don’t need much more to be happy.

H: What’s next for you?
JF: First of all is to pray to God to keep me healthy. Secondly, if I’m healthy I know I can accomplish a lot of good and big things. And finally to give my all, so we can get to where we were last year and win.

NY Mets Jeurys Familia with HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo

All photos (except games) by Paul Tirado Exclusively for HOMBRE
Photographed on location at Stage 48, NYC