As told to Little League International
An Unforgettable Moment in the Big Leagues
In 2022, during a Spring Training game in Florida, I walked onto the field as the manager of the Houston Astros to meet for the plate conference before our game against the Washington Nationals. As I got closer to home plate, I noticed that it wasn’t Nationals Manager Davey Martinez walking out of the opposing team’s dugout, but instead it was my son, Darren. When I reached the plate, I started laughing and asked, “What are you doing here?”
After shaking hands with the umpires, Darren said, “Hey, you know, Dad, we’re going to beat you today,” and I responded with a grin and said, “Yeah, okay.” Once we exchanged lineup cards and got the usual pregame spiel from the umpires, Darren gave me a big hug, and I remember the umpire standing there, watching us embrace the moment before jokingly telling us that it was enough hugging.
I thought that the plate conference would be the most memorable part of the game. That was until Darren hit a grand slam to beat us. As Darren made his way around the bases, I remember everyone on my team watching me, specifically my pitcher, to see if I would be upset about the loss or jumping up and down with joy for Darren. Internally, I was going nuts. My kid just hit a grand slam. But I chose not to watch him as he ran home. I was as stoic as possible, a literal statue.
From Darren’s Perspective
Back to the Early Days
As Darren was growing up, I must admit that his mom was the real superhero during his Little League® days. She was the one who was always there for him while I was either managing, coaching, or just traveling with the team. Without Little League – and without her – Darren wouldn’t be who he is today.
Little League taught Darren compassion, sportsmanship, how to be on time, and most importantly, how to deal with the pressure that he had to face as my son.
When I did get to attend his games, I never took it for granted. It meant a lot to me. I would try to hide behind a tree or be deep in the stands where nobody could see me. I always wanted his games and moments to be about him. But Darren always knew when I was there. It was like he could feel my presence. To be honest, it was more nerve-wracking watching him play than it was playing my own games, because you always want the best for your children.
From Darren’s Perspective
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Over the years, Darren taught me some lessons, too. Darren has great instincts. He always knows when to turn away from a situation or person that does not fit into his life. He taught me to always listen, no matter what. I used that same lesson in my professional career. Whether you’re managing a clubhouse or raising a kid, listening can go a long way. I think parents nowadays can be a little hard on their kids. Sometimes the best thing we can do is take a step back, listen, and let them find their own way as much as they can.
That’s what I tried to do when Darren was going through the recruiting process. As a dad, one of my proudest moments was when he decided he was going to play ball at UC Berkley. I never played in college, so seeing him earn that opportunity, to get a top-tier education and play baseball at a high level, brought me so much joy.
Despite what some may assume, I never pressured him to play baseball. I wasn’t too hard on him about it either. Baseball is a game of failure. It is the toughest pill to swallow when you’re a player, but I knew that at any level Darren played at, he was going to fail more than he succeeded. That failure allowed him to develop his love for the game and a passion to keep going, just like he is now.
Little League is where it all started for Darren and me. It’s where you first learn that lesson on how to deal with failure. From fathers and sons to the new friends you make on a team, Little League is a program that brings people together. Back when Darren was playing, he loved going to the snack bar and participating in activities that would come after the game, which would include a post-win trip to the local restaurant for burgers and root beers. I think moments off the field like that gave him and his team some extra motivation to win and brought them closer together.
From Darren’s Perspective
Those moments are what you remember as a parent. You don’t remember the wins and losses. You remember what made your child happiest.
Today, every game I get to watch Darren play, I don’t see this grown-up playing professional baseball; I see a kid stepping into the batter’s box, chasing a dream with the same smile he had when it all started. And in those moments, I realize how lucky I’ve been to watch his journey unfold.
The story above is shared as part of Little League’s #LLProudParent content series, sharing first-person reflections on their experiences with their child in the Little League program. Have a story you’d like to share? Feel free to share it, along with any photos that help tell the story, to [email protected].