There is little doubt that athletes talented enough to play the game of baseball at its highest level didn’t get there on their own. When you consider that there are only 750 players in Major League Baseball, it’s probably safe to say that most of them started playing when they were five years old (or younger). It’s also safe to say that every one of them had the love, help and support of their parents during their baseball development years – especially from their fathers.

While this is in no way meant as a slam to the hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of mothers who spent countless hours driving their sons to and from baseball practice and games, nor is it to say that they weren’t equally a huge part of their sons’ development as professional baseball players, but in many cases it was the fathers who were actually coaches for their sons’ baseball teams – perhaps even as early as T-ball up to and including high school and travel ball.

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Twenty-four-year-old Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson is a classic example of a guy who made it to the major leagues not only because of his incredible talent but because he grew up in a baseball family and received tremendous help and support of his father Stu.

“My father was a huge influence on me. He showed me my work ethic and raised me to be the good person that I am with the morals I have,” said Pederson. “I’m fortunate to have had an early start in being in a baseball family and understanding what it’s like to see what the season’s going to be like and how to play the game the right way, and just part of staying even keel.”

Pederson credits his dad Stu for helping him develop his strong work ethic.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As many Dodger fans know, Joc’s father Stu Pederson was selected by the Dodgers in the 9th round of the 1981 First-Year Player Draft out of USC and spent seven seasons in the Dodgers farm system before making his major league debut with the big league club on September 8, 1985. And though the elder Pederson only played in five games with the Dodgers before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays organization where he finished his professional career at the Triple-A level, he passed along his experiences to Joc, with whom the popular center fielder still maintains (nearly) daily contact.

“All the time,” Joc said. “He’s in Alaska. He’s the hitting coach for the collegiate [Alaska] Baseball League over there. We talk a lot.”

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Having major league or even minor league baseball lineage is most certainly not a prerequisite for the importance that fathers play in the development of their eventual major league sons. In fact, it’s actually quite a rare.

On May 9, 2016 the Dodgers claimed right-handed reliever Casey Fien off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The 32-year-old Santa Rosa, California native was originally selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and made his major league debut with the Tigers on July, 26, 2009. He eventually landed with Twins, where he spent five seasons in the big leagues.

Unlike Pederson, Fien did not grow up in a baseball family but by no means was his father John any less influential in helping him achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a major league baseball player; in fact, quite the contrary.

“For me he was more of a coach … I mean he was my dad but he was a big time coach in my life,” Fien said. “He coached basketball and baseball with me and when I think of work ethic and how I worked to get to where I’m at, I couldn’t have done it without him; especially the way he pushed me and motivated me to be a leader on our teams. Because he was going to be the coach, he wanted me to be first in line, to be the leader on the team, to help him, and I think that has motivated me too, in a way. I still use it today, I still try to be the best.”

To no one’s surprise, Fien also credits his dad John for his strong work ethic.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Has Casey Fien remained close with his father even after seven seasons in the major leagues?

“My dad’s been at every game since I’ve been here,” Fien said proudly.