Brady Counsell, a 22-two-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect, made his professional debut Thursday — with his father in the opposing dugout.
A 10-round pick in the 2025 MLB draft, Counsell got his chance to get his first reps as a Diamondback this week when he was named to the club’s roster for a spring training matchup with the Chicago Cubs, who are managed by none other than Craig Counsell.
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The elder Counsell also wasn’t the first member of the family to know about the matchup after Brady got the news.
“He knew last night, but he didn’t tell me last night. He told his mom,” Craig Counsell said before the game. “When I texted her a picture of the lineup, she said ‘I know.'”
And when asked about being able to watch his son’s first professional at-bat from the dugout, Counsell responded like any anxious dad would:
“I’ll close my eyes and watch the video later,” he said.
Diamondbacks 10th round pick Brady Counsell is on today’s game roster against the Cubs with his dad in the opposing dugout. Brady even told his mom before dad. (Craig got scooped!) Nervous dad Craig about his son’s first pro AB: “I’ll close my eyes and watch the video later.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 5, 2026
There wasn’t much need for nerves from Craig as his son made his debut in the box. Brady drew a five-pitch walk in his lone at-bat in the eighth inning.
The younger Counsell kept things light-hearted when making a pregame comparison between his game and his father’s.
“I think I definitely have a lot more power than he did,” Brady said. “Normal stance for me,” though he acknowledged he “messed around with” his father’s distinctive batting stance.
Brady represented the Diamondbacks for the lineup card exchange before the game, with father and son meeting at home plate.
Afterward, Craig reflected on the special game and said he wished that his father — who died recently — could have witnessed it.
“Really wish my dad could have been here to see it for sure,” he said. “Probably thought of that first things first honestly. But I’m happy for him and proud of him and thankful that I got to witness it.”
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.
