Can-Am League Has Big League Ties
While many know that the Jackals shortstop Mike DeJesus is the younger brother of Oakland A’s outfielder David DeJesus, what you might not know is how many major league family ties there are to the Can-Am League.
Mike DeJesus, in his third season with the Jackals, is younger than David DeJesus by four years. The DeJesus brothers grew up together in Manalapan, N.J. along with their oldest brother Eric. Mike played his college ball at Coastal Carolina University, while David enjoyed a career at Rutgers University, winning a Big East championship in the process.
The Newark Bears have three players on their roster with MLB ties. Tim Raines Jr., Todd Gossage, and Burt Reynolds all have connections not only to current or ex-major leaguers, but also to the New York Yankees organization. Raines Jr. is in his third season playing for his father Tim Raines, who is the manager of the Bears. Raines Sr. won two World Series with the Yankees in 1996 and 1998. The father-son combination played together briefly for the Baltimore Orioles back in 2001.
Todd Gossage is the son of 22 year MLB veteran Rich “Goose” Gossage. The Goose pitched for nine different teams in his Hall of Fame career, spending the most time with Yankees (seven seasons.) Todd, the Bears starting second baseman, played in the White Sox organization back in 2009, a team his father played for from 1972-1976.
While the actor Burt Reynolds has connections all over Hollywood, the Bears’ Burt Reynolds has connections to the Yankees just like his teammates. Reynolds is the cousin of the Bombers second baseman Robinson Cano. Reynolds is the Bears first player to come from Newark since the franchise was re-established in 1999.
The league’s major league ties spread outside the state of New Jersey though. Charlie Pagliarulo, infielder for the Pittsfield Colonials, is the nephew of Mike Pagliarulo, who won a World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1991. Charlie played his college ball at Bentley University and is in his second professional season.
Infielder for the expansion Rockland Boulders, Dustin Smith is the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. “The Wizard” as Ozzie was known, played his first four seasons with the San Diego Padres before spending the last 15 years of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dustin is in his third year playing independent ball, joining the Boulders this spring.
Story by Matt Sutor
