Being a Host Family for the Potomac Nationals

When we bought our house I said to Brad that we should join the Potomac Nationals Booster Club and think about becoming a host family for the minor league baseball players.  What I really meant was, we are going to join the booster club and come spring we will have a minor league player living with us.  He understood that and thank goodness he's used to my somewhat crazy ideas that end up happening, just like this one did. 

Piper and Ben goofing around.

April 1 was the Nationals Opening Day game and although the team looked good they didn't look like the team we saw in October last year. ( I am just keeping my fingers crossed they achieve success in the post season, more than last year.)  But, I digress, someday I hope to say to people sitting near us at the Nationals games, "see that guy out there pitching? He used to live with us, we were his last host family before he moved on up and was called up to the Majors."  April 2 we went to Woodbridge and attended the annual Meet the Players dinner where the single A players come and eat with all of the booster club members and families.  It was a nice evening and towards the end, one of the players, Ben Hawkins, realized we didn't have a player and asked if he could live with us.  It was a great decision on our part because Ben fit right in and Piper took to him immediately.

Two days later Ben came to live with us, the next day was the P-Nats Opening Day and we went with our friends the Healy's.  We had a great time at the game and Piper got to see Ben in his uniform.  He gave her a signed baseball, which now sits proudly next to the foul ball she caught from Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.   I think one of the side benefits of hosting a player is we go to the minor league games.  The games are so family friendly and fun for adults and the kids.  Plus the Summer Shandy beer is $2 cheaper than at the Nationals games! Another advantage is you can always see Uncle Slam, the mascot, because he's always walking around the stands doing goofy things and high fiving everyone. That said, it is a smaller stadium and you've got to pay attention because foul balls can come from anywhere!



Tyler, Piper and Ben

We settled in with Ben and within two days we also acquired Tyler Herron.  Tyler came to the Nationals as a free agent, the team had been watching him for about a year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.  Originally, Tyler was a first round draft pick from the St. Louis Cardinals, but surgery and recovery take time and the Nats were lucky enough to get him.  Tyler's great and once again, Piper gave her double head pat of approval and just like that, we had two pitchers living with us.

We were lucky enough to see Tyler pitch on Mother's Day.  He finished the game that had been suspended the night before because of rain.  So, even though he was going out as a 'reliever' he treated it like it was a start, which I totally agreed with because it was a start, of sorts.  He only had to go three innings but they were impressive and dominate and by the time he was done pitching he was #3 in strikeouts for the team, as a reliever!

Shirt I wore on Mother's
Day at P-Nats game.

 Two weeks later he got the call that he'd be moving up to AA Harrisburg Senators.  We were so happy for him and yet sad he'd be leaving.  I know we'll see him, from time to time and maybe even in a Nats uniform in DC.  But the next time for sure is in two weeks when the Senators come down to play the Bowie Bay Sox.  He's a great guy who knows where he wants to go and has the ability to make it happen. 

What we were unprepared for was how the leaving of the players would affect Piper.  She had plans for big time play with both boys as well as the third pitcher to show up, Rob Gilliam.  The one thing we will take away from our first experience as a host family is to make sure Piper understands that they might not live with us the entire season.  We had no idea that Ben would go back to Florida to work on his mechanics and subsequently be released.  We had an inkling that Tyler would move up, but figured it wouldn't be until June.  Finally, we have had the pleasure of hosting Rob Gillium a starting pitcher, at our house.  We knew Rob would only be passing through since he was on rehab from a shoulder surgery in October.  He thought he'd be with the P-Nats for 4-5 starts, but that turned out to be 2 starts, he's been doing well in Harrisburg too.  Rob was part of the Gio Gonzales Oakland A's trade two years ago. 

Luckily, before Rob and Tyler left Piper was able to take them, along with another P-Nats starting pitcher, Robbie Ray, to school for a meet and greet with her 2nd grade and a question and answer session.  It was really fun to watch and other than A LOT of questions about Uncle Slam, the kids were able to learn a bit of what it's like to be a minor league baseball player and a little something about each of the guys.  Tyler and Robbie also stopped by Mrs. Peckl's kindergarten class and ended up getting their picture taken with the kids and in the kindergarten yearbook. 

Rob, Robbie and Tyler
in 2nd grade.

    

Rob talking about Uncle Slam

So right now, as we count down the last few days of 2nd grade and look forward to a summer at the pool and swim meets, we are player-less at the Buzz Shack.  That said, Lamar could call at any time and there could be a new guy in our house.  We've loved having these three and look forward to following their professional playing careers or in Ben's case, his new career as a baseball coach.  Ben is also headed back to West Florida University in the fall to finish his degree in Sports Management.  (Where he threw his first no hitter and helped them win a NCAA Division II Championship too).