Get the tissues ready, because this one will hit you right in the feels.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Milwaukee Brewers' left-hander Wade Miley named his second child after Kirk Gibson, his former manager with the Arizona Diamdondbacks.
Per Nightengale:
– Talk about ultimate respect: Brewers veteran starter Wade Miley named his newborn son after his former manager with Arizona in 2011-2014, Kirk Gibson.
The name: Trace Gibson Miley.
“He was a huge impact on my career, definitely, and even my life,” Miley said. “How he carried himself and how he expected us to be. As hard-nosed as he came off as a player, which he was no doubt, the genuine care that he showed for us as players, especially when I was such a young player, it just stuck with me.’’
So what was Gibson’s reaction when Miley informed him?
“He made a joke about why I didn’t name the first one [son] after him,” said Miley.
Gibson, who was a former Major League player himself, managed the D'Backs from 2010-2014, going 353-375. He made the playoffs one time, back in 2011.
As for Miley, he made his major league debut with the D'Backs back in 2011 and was an All-Star back in 2012. He signed a one-year deal with a 2025 option to stay in Milwaukee this offseason.
Miley went 9-4 in 2023 with a 3.14 ERA. He made 23 starts and helped the Brewers win the National League Central crown. Unfortunately for them, they were swept in the wild card round by those same Diamondbacks, who eventually went on to the World Series.
He just wrapped up his 13th year in the big leagues with the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Mariners, Orioles, Astros, Reds and Cubs. Lifetime, he's 108-98 with a 4.06 ERA. Miley has been mostly durable in his career as well. He made the 23 starts this past year and 28 in 2021. He also made 33 in the pre-pandemic season of 2019.
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