Drabek makes own mark on familiar path
With a seemingly innocuous act of talking to the grounds crew, Kyle Drabek set himself apart.While tradition dictates a pitcher is to be left alone during a no-hit bid, the right-hander didn't want to be overwhelmed by his thoughts on July 4, 2010, so he welcomed some chitchat with the
With a seemingly innocuous act of talking to the grounds crew, Kyle Drabek set himself apart.
While tradition dictates a pitcher is to be left alone during a no-hit bid, the right-hander didn't want to be overwhelmed by his thoughts on July 4, 2010, so he welcomed some chitchat with the crew in the Double-A New Hampshire dugout. The content proved to be inconsequential 6 1/2 years later, but the company was key.
"It might've kept my mind off of it, instead of just sitting there alone, thinking about it, which probably helped," he said.
Unlike his son, Doug Drabek couldn't talk to anyone when he flirted with history on Aug. 3, 1990. The Pirates veteran kept to himself every time he pitched, leading rookies to probably think he was "some mean old grumpy man."
"I know some guys can talk and joke around and stuff, and it works for them and that's great. I kind of wish I had been able to do that, but I just didn't talk much," the 1990 Cy Young winner said.
While his father fell one out shy of a no-hitter, Kyle Drabek completed his bid. After the game, he called his dad, a pitching coach in the D-backs system, and his mom, who was nervously following along online.
*
For years, Kristy Drabek balanced her kids' schedules with her husband's. After collecting homework assignments from teachers, she would take kids Justin, Kyle and Kelsey to Spring Training for two weeks to spend time with their father. Once school got out, the four would go live with Doug in Pittsburgh or Houston, though it got harder once the kids had their own practices and games.
"[It was] pretty difficult because you don't get to see him much and technology back then wasn't as good so you would only be able to talk on the phone a little bit. We would wait for summer to be able to go visit him," Kyle Drabek said. "We would always watch his games and [my mom] would throw with me and my brother when he was gone. So she did a great job of that."
In the offseason, Doug Drabek practiced with his kids, and in retirement, he coached their various baseball teams, but he said it was tough for him to not be able to go to his sons' baseball and football games and his daughter's recitals during the '90s.
"She had to take them everywhere, take care of them," Doug Drabek said. "And you get used to it, but you still miss not being able to help out some."
Doug Drabek brought his kids to the field and reveled in watching them as bat boys during Spring Training. Some of Kyle Drabek's earliest memories are in the clubhouse while his father played for the Astros.
"They're both very competitive. Kyle, I would say is even more; he's the most competitive person I know," Kristy Drabek said. "He doesn't like to lose if you're playing a game in the family room or whatever, he can't stand to lose. And Doug's the same way."
Although the competitive drive binds them, the Major League veteran doesn't see too many similarities when his son's on the mound. Doug Drabek sees himself as more of a finesse pitcher, rather than a power pitcher like the 29-year-old.
*
Kyle Drabek now has a son of his own to teach the game to following Cash's birth last June. But the best news in his life as a man coincided with the worst news for a professional athlete.
"It was kind of a blessing in disguise. I got released a few days before he was born, so I was able to see him every day instead of only being able to see him for the three-day period that we get," the new father said. "And it's a pretty amazing thing."
Following his stint with the D-backs and extended paternity leave, the Giants signed the 6-foot-2 hurler on July 12 and sent him to the Rookie-level Arizona League in hopes of converting him into a shortstop or third baseman. While Drabek hadn't planned on staying in Grand Canyon State for the rest of the season, he cherished the extra time he got to spend with his family.
"I was lucky enough to be able to see [Cash] every day, and I got to imagine that it would be pretty hard for everyone else who only has the three days to see the kid be born and then you have to leave again," he said. "You pretty much can't see him for a few months because you don't want to fly with a newborn."
This spring, Kyle Drabek is looking to follow his father's lead once again. Currently a free agent, he hopes to find a new team before the season starts, even though that would mean returning to the difficult life of travel away from his family.
With the advance of technology, Doug Drabek knows it will be easier for his son to stay in touch with his family while on the road than when he himself was playing, encouraging Kyle to take advantage of video calling so Cash can hear and see him.
"I pretty much throughout my life took advice from him on baseball, and now I'm taking advice from him on being a father," the hopeful Minor Leaguer said. "He and my mom did a great job raising three kids, and so whatever advice I can I take from them, I take it to heart and just try to be the best father I can."
Kelsie Heneghan is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsie_Heneghan.
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.