For the first time in more than four years, Steve Bedrosian will spend Father’s Day with all five of his kids.
The former Braves’ son Cam and his new Angels teammates are in Atlanta for three games against the Braves, a series that started Friday and will end Sunday with a 8 p.m. Father’s Day game. Cam was called up to the majors June 3 after spending all or part of four seasons in the minors. He was a first-round draft pick in 2010.
“That’s the biggest part, is that I’m actually home for Father’s Day,” Cam said. “They’ll probably come up here, and we’ll probably go out to lunch or something like that, but other than that I’m pretty busy during the day.”
But the Angels’ Friday night game against the Braves wasn’t the first time that Bedrosian saw his son in the big leagues. He made the trip to Houston to see the Angels take on the Astros and saw Cam pitch an inning.
“I told him no matter what it is, what time, where we are, whatever: We’re dropping and going to see his debut because I know how important it is,” Bedrosian said.
He said besides being overwhelmed with pride, seeing his son’s major league debut made him think of his own debut in 1981 with the Braves in Dodger Stadium.
“He worked hard this winter in the gym. He worked hard with me throwing in the pastures at home and throwing at Home Plate in Peachtree City,” Bedrosian said of Cam. “He’s worked his way to where he is now, and he knows what it takes.”
Cam is serving as a right-handed relief pitcher now, a role his father is familiar with.
“A lot of similarities in our careers and obviously a lot of differences, but a lot of similarities,” said Bedrosian, who was known during his 14 seasons in the majors for his right-handed relief pitching.
“He’s off and running, and he’s got to earn his stripes now. He’ll continue to learn all the little things he’s got to learn in the big leagues.”
Exactly 10 days after he was called up to the big leagues, Cam made a trip to where it all began — for more than just a good night’s rest in his parents’ house. Born and reared in Senoia, Cam and his siblings grew up attending Braves games at Turner Field with their dad.
“Ironic enough, we had looked at the schedule and saw that the Angels were going to visit here, and way back we thought wouldn’t that be nice,” Bedrosian said. “We’re glad it came to fruition.”
Over the three-game series Cam will have his parents, siblings, grandparents, former coaches and teammates, as well as friends from his hometown in the stands. As a relief pitcher, Cam said he’s hopeful he will be able to make it into a game for an inning or two.
“As soon as they heard I was called up and they knew I was coming here, everybody got their own tickets, and I think they’ll be pretty close to the bullpen tonight,” Cam said.
The large hometown crowd may make Cam a little more nervous with the added pressure, but more than that, he’s excited for them to see them to see him play, he said.
“Everybody around my hometown loves the Braves, so they were excited that I got to come and see them,” Cam said. “So now hopefully we’ll have a couple more Angels fans in the stands tonight.”
Even though Cam spent the evening before his first game in Turner Field at the Bedrosian family home, Cam said he wasn’t sure if his dad would be wearing Angels red or Braves navy blue. His dad and his entire family showed up outfitted in Angels red — and proud of it.
“We’re Angels fans now, and that’s our new team,” Bedrosian said. “We will cheer for the Angels when they’re playing the Braves. I got to say it. I’m just going to be honest, but I cheer for the Braves when they’re playing anybody else.”
