What is it like being a father and big league ballplayer? It's complicated.
The opportunity to have a child around a major league team can be priceless. The images of assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett's teenage son working out with the Red Sox represents a unique opportunity for any aspiring big leaguer. And seeing some of the younger set -- such as Brock Holt's son Griff -- run around the clubhouse in Red Sox gear should hit home.
"We were on the road a lot, came home for a couple days and then back on the road again so I hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks. It was nice to have him out there. He was excited to see me. He knew I was out there in the bullpen."
It might have been unorthodox, but Workman wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for his mother to hand off Grayson just for a few minutes, game or no game. Priorities.
It's something Workman can appreciate a whole lot better now than when he first entered the big leagues six years ago.
"At the time I was a young guy and I didn’t know about any of that stuff so it’s definitely different," Workman said. "It’s definitely difficult at times, especially when he was a baby and he didn’t sleep well, having to come out and do your job. But like with any job, that stuff happens."
Unique jobs necessitate unique parenting moments. Welcome to fatherhood in baseball.