The Nutshell: Lessons in Fatherhood
Anyone working in baseball will tell you it can take time away from home or your family.
Anyone working in baseball will tell you it can take time away from home or your family.
Flying Squirrels pitcher Nick Morreale experienced this early in high school when he played summer baseball. Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Morreale spent select summers in Atlanta on the club baseball circuit.
He couldn’t sleep in his childhood bed, just the one available in his host family’s house. The time away from his Minnesota roots taught him independence early.
“I was sort of used to being on my own as high school wrapped up,” Morreale said. "(Being away) was not as big of a shock. I liked my space, the autonomy and the responsibility of taking care of myself.”
Morreale went down to Georgia to get more baseball in due to the limited season in his hometown. The high school season started in the middle of April and would go by quickly. Tryouts were held indoors, including taking ground balls off a hardwood gym floor.
During his sophomore year, there so much snow lingering from the winter, the majority of his gamedays were doubleheaders.
Game days were long that season, but Morreale was content with the hours.
“We were playing a lot of doubleheaders multiple times a week and I was getting out of school at noon, and it was awesome,” Morreale said. “I was thinking ‘man, what’s better than this? I go to school for four hours and go play baseball.’”
Morreale continued his baseball season after the summer by competing with another club team in Minnesota during the fall. Nearly every weekend was spent at a travel tournament out of state to keep up with competition and get noticed by scouts.
Heading into his senior year, Morreale was looking into post-graduate routes when his younger sister found a soccer camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Morreale family found the academy had a post-graduate baseball team that could provide extra eyes.
That post-graduate year contained over 20 games in the fall and nearly 60 in the spring, comparable to a college baseball schedule.
He then committed to Georgetown, still over 1,000 miles away from his hometown.
“My only goal when I was in high school was to get an opportunity to play in college,” Morreale said. “I guess I didn’t really understand the track that would take me on, or the different places I would get to see. That’s definitely an added bonus, being able to experience living in all these different places.”
His baseball career continued in 2019 when the San Francisco Giants chose Morreale with their 14th round pick. The COVID-19 pandemic swiped away baseball from him in 2020, but Morreale gained a precious gift that year.
He and his fiancée, McKenna, welcomed their first child, Aria, on December 7, 2020. The moment Aria was born, Morreale discovered a new light to his life.
“It’s hard to describe, but it really just became real,” Morreale said. “The minute they’re born, your purpose changes. I think your identity changes. It can be a little shaky because suddenly, you’re a new role. But it was great and it’s the best thing ever, being a dad.”
Morreale’s title change of “dad” has done more than just fill his heart. Aria’s presence and their family moments have shaped his baseball career in a positive light.
Through the first three years of Aria’s childhood, she saw dad pitch for the High-A Eugene Emeralds. He also spent the majority of 2024 in Eugene before his callup to Double-A Richmond. He let go of the constant desire to get promoted and focused on his fatherly duties.
“When you’re just a baseball player, you think of yourself as that’s your only identity,” Morreale said. “When you’re a dad, you’re a dad first, so it’s like everything else is free. Just knowing that no matter what happens at the field, I always get to be a dad and serve that role. It helps me play more free.”
Like Morreale’s upbringing, Aria has already covered some time away from Minnesota. She has been to already 25 states and is just 4 years old.
Morreale has fully embraced his newfound role as a father and hopes to build the best life possible for his treasured daughter.
“I hope I can be her biggest supporter in whatever she chooses to do, and I hope that I can help give her opportunities to chase the things she wants to chase,” Morreale said. “I feel like, as a parent, that’s the greatest gift you can give.”
Favorite sports venue? – Target Field, little biased because I’m from Minnesota
Who was your favorite baseball player growing up? – Joe Mauer
What’s your spirit animal? – Maybe a Lion, the beard is helping, that’s what I’m trending towards
What is your favorite dish to cook? – I like Italian food, so penne a la vodka. Maybe some chicken or Italian sausage thrown in
Where did you go to college? – Georgetown
Most inspirational person in your life? – My parents. I play for my daughter, Aria
How clubs across Minor League Baseball are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend
PLAY BALL Weekend is almost here, and Minor League clubs have put together an exciting calendar of events to celebrate MLB’s youth engagement initiative. Some clubs are hosting youth clinics or other events in their home ballparks while others are bringing the joy of baseball and softball into the local
Here are the weirdest plays and stats from MiLB in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Podcast features first-base promotions for Caglianone, Eldridge
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other