Jacob Gonzalez, Casey Candiotti create own paths on baseball field – azcentral.com
Richard Obert, azcentral sports 
UP NEXT
03
Luis Gonzalez and his son, Jacob, talk about the impact Luis’ major-league career had on Jacob’s own interest in baseball.
Wochit
Since they were sitting next to each other in high chairs, Jacob Gonzalez and Casey Candiotti had a baseball bond, one that has taken them through tee-ball together, to major-league parks, to becoming teammates at Scottsdale Chaparral High.
They’re juniors now, leading azcentral sports’ preseason No. 1 team in the state in a season that begins Wednesday against Phoenix Sunnyslope in the Scottsdale Invitational Tournament.
Jacob is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound third baseman who hit .402 as a sophomore and already has committed to TCU. Casey is a 6-foot right-hander who possesses a knuckleball like his dad and committed to Saint Mary’s College, where his dad played.
Their dads, former Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez and major-league pitcher Tom Candiotti, have “been buddies forever,” Tom said, living just a few houses from each other in north Scottsdale. They are now employees of the Diamondbacks. Tom is the radio color commentator; Luis, forever known as the man who drove in the winning run to beat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the World Series, is special assistant to team President and CEO Derrick Hall.
Luis likes to tell Tom that he took him deep once, and Tom reminds Luis that he had a .220 batting average against him.
RELATED: Preseason American Family Insurance ALL-USA Arizona baseball team
Both son were born with the passion to play. Their dads just steered them in the right direction and offered an ear and help.
‘”I don’t think any of us would do that to our kids,” said Tom, about asking their sons to be like them. “He showed a passion for the game of baseball. Once you show a passion for it, you’re going to do what you can to get better.
“For us, we just kept introducing our kids, put them in the right spot, making sure if they had any questions, they could come and ask. We analyze what he did well, what he didn’t do well, what he needs to improve on for the next one. It’s always a learning process.”
There are always going to growing pains, speed bumps on the road to success.
“When they were younger kids, it gets to the point where they sometimes don’t like to listen to Dad,” Tom said. “So Luis called me and said, ‘Hey, you mind taking Jacob down and throwing batting practice to him? He’s not listening to me.’ He’s one of the best hitters in baseball, and I’m going, ‘You want me to teach your kid how to hit? Well, tell me what you want me to tell him.’ “
The sons are grateful for the baseball doors that have opened because of their dads.
But they’re making it in the game they love their own way.
RELATED: Baseball Super 10 preseason rankings
“To me, he’s a little bit of a different breed,” Luis said. “He wants to create his own identity. That’s one of the things I’m really proud about him. The obvious choice for him would have been to stay here and play at ASU or Grand Canyon or U of A. But he wants to start his own chapter. I’m excited about it. He works hard. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s a good student in school, which is important to my wife and I. He’s a leader.”
Jacob didn’t take his dad’s No. 20. He wears 26 for the Firebirds. He bats right-handed, not left like his dad.
He was one of the triplets (his sisters are Alyssa and Megan), born two years before Luis’ huge 2001 season when he hit 57 home runs, too young to remember his dad delivering the World Series-winning hit off of future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera.
“I always tell him I’m going to double up his World Series counts,” Jacob said. “I’ll beat him at that.”
Jacob started out in the outfield, but in the eighth grade he was moved to the infield. He played some catcher but gravitated to third base.
On the small side growing up, Jacob grew 6 inches his sophomore year, put on about 60 pounds since then, and he went from a singles hitter to a power gap hitter. He drove in 27 runs and hit 10 doubles and five home runs his sophomore year. He is taller than his dad now.
RELATED: Bordow: Pitch count rule needed to protect young arms
“I can probably take him now,” Jacob said, jokingly.
Tom and Casey both would throw batting practice to Jacob. Casey and Jacob have been on the same baseball teams since tee-ball.
“He’s got a good curveball, Casey does,” Jacob said.
Casey sometimes watches Diamondbacks bullpen sessions, studies how the pitchers work.
“My dad taught me how to pitch, and both taught me how to field,” Casey said. “It’s been a great ride.”
Casey, who went 4-1 in 30 innings of work as a sophomore at Chaparral, asked his dad how to throw a knuckleball, but he has yet to show it in a game.
He might uncork it this season.
FIND A GAME: Baseball schedule
“He has a good knuckleball,” Tom said. “When we play catch sometimes it gets to being dodgeball. I slap it down and say, ‘OK, that’s enough.’
“He does have it. You never know when he might need it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he breaks it out this year against left-handers. It’s a very effective pitch. You just have to have enough confidence.”
They’re not the only sons of former major league players in the Chaparral baseball program.
Former pitcher Mike Hampton’s son is on the JV team.
“It’s just awesome,” Chaparral coach Sam Messina said. “First and foremost, those are great kids. They understand how to play the game.
“They handle tough situations very well. Both of them did that last year. They’re not overwhelmed by the moment.”
Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.
0) { %>
<!–
About Us
Free Shipping
If your order is $35 or more, you may qualify for free shipping. With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days.
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs