This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
KANSAS CITY -- When the Royals win at Kauffman Stadium, the sounds of their clubhouse include loud music, players in great moods, and ... children’s voices.
You have to be careful to sidestep a 3-year-old running at full speed with a basketball across the room, or a 4-year-old spinning wildly in a chair at a locker. Sometimes there might be baseballs flying (although that was more common when Zack Greinke’s kids were here). It’s chaos in the best way, with the players’ kids running around celebrating the win with their dads.
“When we win, Liam knows he can go in the clubhouse, so he gets super excited,” infielder Nick Loftin said. “He knows he gets to run around and get a popsicle, so, I mean, I don’t think there’s anything better than that.”
The Royals’ roster is full of dads with young kids, brand-new dads and soon-to-be dads, so with Father’s Day on Sunday, we surveyed a few to understand what it means to them to be a dad as they navigate their job on the field.
Lucas Erceg
5-month-old daughter, Elsie
On what he’s learned since becoming a dad: “It’s like a challenge from God. I don’t think I had much patience growing up, not only with myself but with everyone around me. This is a test of learning how to be patient. And understanding that this is now my job, my responsibility, to guide her and teach her, make sure that she understands that there’s a right way and a wrong way to do things. It totally gives me perspective on everything. It’s the best thing ever.”
Nick Loftin
2-year-old son, Liam, and baby girl expected this fall
Loftin on how his perspective of the sport shifted: “It doesn’t matter if I go 4-for-4 or 0-for-4. When I go home, he doesn’t know the difference. So me being frustrated about an 0-for-4 day or overly joyful about a 4-for-4 day has no effect on how he views me as a dad. He’s always happy as soon as I walk in the door. Losses are no fun, for sure, but there’s something bigger than the game of baseball going on at home, and it’s growing and molding my son, and now future daughter, to be the best person they can be. Biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I love every second of it. I have fun every day with Liam.”
Michael Wacha
3-year-old daughter, Marcia, and 9-month-old son, Tommy
On being able to show his kids what he does for a living: “It’s a lot of fun. Whether it’s fireworks night or coming in here after a win, bringing them out to the field and getting them on the turf -- we take a lot of pictures, so hopefully one day, they’ll think it’s pretty cool. Being a dad really is probably the coolest and most fulfilling thing in my life, really. Waking up in the morning, seeing their faces first thing, and then coming home after being at the field and seeing them smile, it’s something I always look forward to. It’s an incredible honor to be a father to those two kids.”
John Schreiber
3-year-old son, Charlie, and 1-year-old daughter, Madison
On how he’s changed since he became a father: “The perspective is a big thing. My son and daughter are so excited to see me when I get home, and they bring so much joy no matter what happens at the field. But another aspect of that is that it’s given me even more drive to succeed and play as long as I can. Not only to give them the best life, but so I can show them hard work and determination. And as they get older, I want them to see me doing the thing I love doing.”
With a grin, he also shared the biggest piece of advice he gives his teammates about to be fathers: “Don’t feel bad about taking a nap when you get to the field. You got to rest up when you can. Those kids can wake you up pretty early after a late night game.”