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Like Father, Like Son(s)
Omaha Royals
coach Dave LaRoche will miss the first game of the season to watch his boys
play ball.
04.05.04 - Omaha, NE – When the Omaha Royals play their season opener Thursday night at Rosenblatt Stadium, you'll have to forgive Dave LaRoche for being absent.
Omaha's third-year pitching coach is taking a road trip to watch his son, Adam, make his Major League debut as the Braves first baseman.
LaRoche and his wife Patty plan to be in Atlanta for the Braves first two games Tuesday and Wednesday against the New York Mets.
Then they'll head about an hour south of Atlanta Thursday night to watch Adam's younger brother, Andy, play in the season opener for the Columbus Catfish, a class-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Adam, 24, is entering his fifth season in professional baseball, while 20-year old Andy has just 19 games of professional experience after being lured away from attending Rice University by the Dodgers last summer.
"It's an exciting time," Dave LaRoche says of Adam's pending big league debut with Atlanta. "He was happy to get a lot of at-bats this spring and Julio Franco has really taken him under his wing and helped him any way he can."
Dave, a two-time American League All-Star, offers this scouting report on Adam: "He uses the whole field. His strength is being able to handle any pitch and he also plays excellent defense."
Andy, who played shortstop in high school, is expected to play mostly second and third base this season, plus work some behind the plate.
His father's scouting report: "highly competitive…quick bat…lots of power…great arm", while adding "he's real aggressive and will chase some bad pitches, but patience should come with 400 at-bats this season."
Omaha opens its 2004 Pacific Coast League season at Rosenblatt Stadium on Thursday, April 8th, facing the Oklahoma RedHawks. Dave LaRoche will rejoin Omaha for the second game of the season on Friday.
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