What baseball fathers know: Advice from Cubs and White Sox dads – Chicago Tribune
To mark Father’s Day, we asked Cubs and White Sox players what fatherhood has taught them and what advice they would give their children if they say they want to play professional sports.
WHAT HAS FATHERHOOD TAUGHT YOU THE MOST?
Zach Duke, White Sox pitcher (children: Madison, 5; Weston, 2, Ella, 1)
“You have to be really patient with them. They each learn at their own pace and they listen at their own pace too. You can scream until you’re blue in the face, but if they don’t want to listen, then nothing is going to change.
“I realized that whenever I got home, my daughter didn’t care if I did good or bad on the field, she just wanted time with Dad. It brought a whole new perspective with things knowing that even if I had a bad day you have to turn that off and you have to be all-in as a dad at that point.”
Jason Hammel, Cubs pitcher (children: Beckett, 4; Colby, 1)
“The biggest lesson I learned when I became a dad is there are a lot more things that are much more important than just yourself. You learn to really grasp and hold on to the things that are really important.”
Jake Arrieta, Cubs pitcher (children: Cooper, 4; Palmer, 2)
“An added appreciation and understanding for how important having patience is. Just having two kids now, regardless of what happens in the field, they’re there to receive you with open arms every night, after every game.
“It’s something that is very comforting. Just the process of them moving throughout their stages of early childhood. Learning to walk, learning to talk. Reaching out for you for the first hug, telling you they love you. Just so many special moments that make you feel incredibly fortunate and grateful to be able to have healthy, beautiful kids. And I’m sure the emotions will continue to change over time and as I get older I’ll probably want to yell and scream at them.
“But at the same time, I drove my parents nuts so I know it’s coming from them sometime down the lineup. Just know, especially when they were infants and toddlers, the thought these two children depend on us for everything in their lives 24/7. That’s a pretty incredible responsibility.”
Adam Eaton, White Sox outfielder (child: Brayden, 2 months)
“Have patience; patience is huge. I’ve never experienced a crying baby when he’s changed and fed and has plenty if sleep and he’s still crying so you have to have patience with him. On and off the field it’s moved into other areas into my life on and off the field — with baseball and with my wife. Patience is something I’m slowly learning to have with everybody.”
Clayton Richard, Cubs pitcher (children: Cashton, 3; Cannon, 2)
“You can’t be selfish anymore. You realize how important it is to make sure everything you do makes a difference in your child’s life. You focus on giving what you can to them. Every step of their development they’re looking at their parents to see what they should do. The big thing is taking less time to worry about yourself and your issues and make sure you’re helping them through their development.”
Robin Ventura, White Sox manager (children: Rachel, 23; Madison, 22; Grace, 20; Jack, 17)
“Just patience. It’s hard with baseball because of your time. I always felt the importance that if I wasn’t doing this or doing something to prepare for this, then I was with them. I didn’t spend a lot of time going out doing other things.
“You get perspective from a lot of different things, having a family and understanding how important that is and making sure they’re heading in the right direction with how they treat people.”
David Ross, Cubs catcher (children: Landri, 9; Cole, 7; Harper, 9 months)
“The greatest lesson I learned is that your actions speak louder than words. Your kids are going to do as you do and they’re going to ask why you’re doing certain things. They see all your flaws so I think you learn a lot about yourself in that. You’re teaching them hard work and how to overcome adversity.”
Dan Jennings, White Sox pitcher (child: Brooklyn, 2)
“Patience. I have none and with children you have to have patience, just because they don’t know any better a lot of the time. They just go with what they feel and what makes them happy and sometimes it’s not always the right thing. So you have to be patient in teaching them and helping them along the way.
“It’s all about the kids. My wife asks me all the time, ‘Hey, did you have a good day?’ I say, ‘If she had a good day then I had a good day’ That’s really what it’s all about.”
Ben Zobrist, Cubs infielder (children: Zion, 7, Kruse, 4, Blaise, 6 months)
“It’s definitely taught me that I need to learn patience and grace. That’s constantly something you’re working on.”
David Robertson, White Sox pitcher (child: Luke, 3)
“How much stress you can take. And sleep deprivation. You kind of calm down a lot and you have to realize to be patient with your child as much as possible and realize they’re learning everything from you so you have to be a good example for them. That’s the approach I try to take with my son.”
Dexter Fowler, Cubs outfielder (child: Naya, 2)
“Patience and selflessness. Those are huge, especially in dealing with kids in general.”
Nate Jones, White Sox pitcher (children: Archer, 1; Lilly, 3)
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