Reaching the major leagues already felt strangely attainable for Luke Leftwich, before his father gathered him and his siblings to unlock a family secret.
Leftwich, a Phillies pitching prospect at Triple A, was just a teenager and not even the best player on his travel teams. He knew the climb to the majors would be difficult, but his father, Phil, had climbed his way there in the 1990s with the Angels.
So, why couldn't he?
"You know Dad's friend, Tom," Phil Leftwich asked his children, who nodded. "He's actually your grandfather."
Phil Leftwich had discovered a decade earlier that he was adopted as a baby, but he kept it from his children until his adoptive parents passed away. For Luke Leftwich, the long-kept secret made his far-flung goal seem even closer. His dad's friend, Tom _ Leftwich's biological grandfather _ was former major-league reliever Tom Timmermann.
Luke Leftwich not only had a dad who reached the majors, but a grandfather, too. Leftwich came from major-league stock. There have been just five three-generation major-league families. Leftwich, if he keeps climbing, would be the second third-generation pitcher.
The right-hander did not allow an earned run in 10 relief appearances this season with Double-A Reading, before he was promoted Thursday to Lehigh Valley. Leftwich, who will turn 25 next month, struck out nearly half the 58 Double-A batters he faced.
He is one step closer to making history. All because of his father's discovery.
"That's an interesting story," Leftwich said.
