LaRoche: No pressure

By Brian Hilderbrand

Monday, July 3, 2006 | 7:33 a.m.

For every Ken Griffey Jr. or Barry Bonds, sons of former major leaguers who made names for themselves in the big leagues, there is a Craig Griffey or Bobby Bonds Jr.

Although the pressure to follow in the footsteps of a famous father (or brother) has taken its toll on more than a few progenies, Las Vegas 51s third baseman Andy LaRoche doesn't figure to be one of those casualties.

LaRoche, the son of former major league pitcher Dave LaRoche and the younger brother of Atlanta Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche, seemed destined to become a pro baseball player from his earliest days. Another brother, Jeff, played seven years mainly in the minor league systems of the Rockies and Marlins. Andy practically grew up in major league clubhouses while his dad served as pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets following his 14-year major league career.

At the same time LaRoche was learning to field grounders and hit breaking pitches, his father imparted some advice to Andy that he said he has never forgotten.

LaRoche never has been burdened with the pressure of following his dad and brother to the major leagues because "he never put any pressure on me," LaRoche said. "He always said, 'If you don't want to play, don't play. Just go out and have fun, and when you stop loving the game, stop playing.'

"He didn't tell me to play baseball; it just came naturally, being around it. I always wanted to play, and it was what I loved doing."

Unlike Craig Griffey and Bobby Bonds Jr., who played the same positions as their famous fathers, LaRoche said being a position player probably lessened the pressure on him to live up to other people's expectations while he was developing into one of the Los Angeles Dodgers' top prospects.

Jerry Royster, 51s manager, agreed. Royster managed Craig Griffey in the minor leagues and saw firsthand how the pressure of trying to live up to the family name weighed on the youngest Griffey.

"Craig played for me, and there was definite pressure on him," Royster said. "He was a center fielder, his brother was an All-Star center fielder, and his dad was an All-Star outfielder.

"There's a difference between a father that was a player and a son that's a player as opposed to a father that was a pitcher and a son that's a player - there's a huge difference."

Dave LaRoche was a three-sport standout at West Torrance High School in Southern California and was offered a basketball scholarship to UNLV - then known as Nevada Southern University - but opted to sign with the California Angels after being drafted in the fifth round in the 1967 amateur draft.

LaRoche compiled a 65-58 record with 126 saves and a 3.53 earned-run average in 14 seasons with California, Minnesota, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland and the New York Yankees. He now serves as a pitching coach in the Toronto Blue Jays' minor league organization.

Andy LaRoche never got the opportunity to watch his father pitch in the major leagues. He was born the year his father's playing career ended in 1983. But some of his earliest memories include "hanging around Frank Thomas and (Robin) Ventura and Carlton Fisk" with the White Sox from 1989 to 1991.

That experience, LaRoche said, is more of a motivating factor to make it to the major leagues than following in his father's or brother's footsteps.

"I'm just real happy for him that he's made it and hopefully he'll stay up there and have success," LaRoche said of his older brother, Adam. "But, no, that doesn't put any more pressure on me.

"We're both happy for each other, and we want each other to succeed. It's just awesome. I couldn't ask for anything better, you know, than having a dad and two older brothers that play pro ball."