06/13/2026
Fun Friday ⚾️👑 | Back in the Dugout
While celebrating my 10-year wedding anniversary, I randomly bumped into an old baseball teammate, Evan, at the same resort we were staying at in the Dominican Republic.
Haven’t seen him in over 25 years and we started talking about his dad, Coach John, who was one of the most impactful coaches I ever had growing up. What I will always remember is how he made you feel. He looked you in the eye and made you believe in yourself. If you were struggling, he stayed with you. If you were doubting yourself, he built you back up. He didn’t just coach baseball, he made kids feel confident and seen.
I always told my wife stories about him, but being there and talking about it again with Evan gave both of us goosebumps. I later found out Coach John passed in 2022, and I had already lost my dad in 2020. On Evan’s last night there, we took a family photo and it honestly felt like more than just chance. I told Evan it felt like our dads were up above the clouds, watching over us, making sure that moment happened.
Coach John is a big part of why I’m back coaching this season. Not because I have it all figured out, but because I remember what it felt like to have someone believe in you when you didn’t quite believe in yourself yet.
And now I get to live that from a different side too… coaching my son Dominic, spending time with him on the field, watching him fall in love with the game, develop his talent, and learn what it means to keep going even when things get tough. That part means everything.
With baseball in full swing again and the Jays bringing everyone together last postseason run, it just feels like the right time to be back around the game. The Royals season has already been full of laughs, water bucket celebrations, and moments the kids won’t forget anytime soon.
Because… it’s not just about baseball. It’s about belief.
WE ARE ROYALS 👑⚾️💙
