Jeff Nettles Adds to Family Home Run Lore

Although he already has about eight and a half major league seasons, Esteban Yanwould like more.  “I hope to get another opportunity”, the 35-year-old said.  “I know I’ve got a lot left.”

I did not discuss future major league hopes with Willis Otanez,but the Long Islandfirst baseman-DH would not mind seeing his son get a chance some day.  The proud dad says 17-year-old lefty Winston Otanezis throwing at about 86 miles per hour now and has a couple of scouts looking at him, but “he has one class to graduate, and must get that done first.”

The Nettles Family Home Run Story

Another father-son team has already proven itself, even if Jeff Nettleshas had to settle for his feats coming in the minor leagues.  The 32-year-old son of former major league star Graig Nettleshas been on fire as part of Somerset’s22-5 run since August 10 that has the Patriots’magic number down to nine to nail down their fourth consecutive playoff berth.  Somerset leads Freedom Divisionrival Lancasterby 4.5 games with 11 to play.  The Barnstormerstrail by three in the loss column, and have 14 games remaining.

Nettles hit four home runs in as many at-bats against the two first-half champions the last two days, connecting three times against Southern MarylandSunday and in his first trip against YorkMonday.  The Labor Day contest turned out to be a five-RBI game for Nettles in a 7-3 victory before a full house at home.

Graig Nettles hit four home runs in a doubleheader for the New York YankeesApril 14, 1974, and hit 390 during his major league career.  Currently ranked ninth on the Bombers’all-time list (250), he was sixth when he left New York, trailing some fairly good names— Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra.

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Seven Players Within 3 of Home Run Lead

The best individual race in the Atlantic Leagueis for home run honors.  Reggie Taylorhas moved into a tie with his departed Lancasterteammate Jason Perry, who has returned to school at Georgia Tech, with 22 apiece, but Josh Pressleyof Somersetand Bridgeport’s Steve Mosshave 21, Eric Crozierof Southern Marylandand Bryant Nelsonof Lancasterhave 20 and the Barnstormers’ Aaron Herrhas 19.

(Subscriptions to the Atlantic League Notebook are available on a monthly or full season basis via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly subscription column, the Independent Baseball Insider, which can be found via his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball PR experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)