LAKELAND, Fla. — One week before the Detroit Tigers‘ first spring training game, Staci and Kenny Meadows — the parents of Austin and Parker Meadows — got into a debate about watching their sons play together for the first time.
The parents live in Loganville, Georgia.
The brothers play in Lakeland, Florida.
It’s a 7-hour drive.
“We might not be able to make that first spring training game, if they’re together on the same field at the same time,” Kenny said last week. “But we will make it a point if it happens during the season this year.”
“Wait, why wouldn’t we be there for spring training?” Staci said.
MEADOWS BROS: Tigers brothers Austin, Parker Meadows arrive for epic spring training they won’t forget
“We don’t know what game it will be,” Kenny said.
“I’m going to leave you at home,” Staci said, laughing. “Because if I find out…”
“We might not find out until 9 a.m. for a 1 p.m. game,” Kenny said.
Manager A.J. Hinch took care of the situation and solved the argument. He talked to Austin a few days before Saturday’s spring opener against the Philadelphia Phillies and revealed the brothers would be in the starting lineup.
The parents spent Feb. 15-20 at Austin’s home in Apollo Beach. The entire family went to a local field Feb. 17 for a final workout, which included batting practice, then the brothers reported to camp Feb. 18. For the first time, they were in the same locker room.
“I’m still following him around like a puppy dog,” Parker said Friday. “I’m just learning from not only him but everybody else, all the other big leaguers. I’m trying to soak everything in while I can.”
Seven days later, Austin and Parker were playing in the same game for the first time. Thanks to Hinch’s heads up, the parents planned a surprise visit to see their children play.
They left their home in Georgia on Friday and drove through the night.
“They’re not coming,” Austin said Saturday morning.
Parker, though, had an idea of what was happening behind the scenes.
His parents couldn’t trick him.
“I knew you guys were coming,” Parker said when he saw his parents at Joker Marchant Stadium before the game.
MORE ON AUSTIN: Tigers’ Austin Meadows describes ‘anxiety monster’ last year, his ‘huge step forward’
MORE ON PARKER: How Tigers prospect Parker Meadows ‘put myself back on the map’ in 2022 season
In Saturday’s game, Austin played right field and hit fifth in the batting order; Parker played center field and hit ninth.
Parker upstaged Austin with a big home run.
He crushed the first pitch he saw: a 91.6 mph fastball from Phillies right-hander Erich Uelmen, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs last season, soared to right-center field for a solo home run in the third inning. The ball traveled 388 feet.
It had a 110 mph exit velocity.
He smoked it.
“That was a pretty cool moment,” Hinch said. “I can’t imagine what that feels like for a family member to do that with their parents in the stands. Parker will have something on Austin now for a while.”
TOP PROSPECT: Colt Keith thinks like Conor McGregor, plays like Joey Votto, looks like Tigers’ best prospect
After crossing home plate, Parker looked toward the Tigers’ dugout.
There was Austin.
“I saw him running at me,” Parker said. “I thought he was going to tackle me.”
They hugged.
It was a moment Parker will never forget.
“That was pretty special,” he said. “I’m definitely going to remember that for the rest of my life.”
If all goes as planned, Parker — a little less than 4½ years younger — could play with his brother in the big leagues this season. To start the season, Parker is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers added him to the 40-man roster in November after a breakthrough season in Double-A Erie.
Austin almost hit a massive home run down the right-field line in the fourth inning.
But the ball went foul.
“Mine was fair, by the way,” Austin said.
“Every hitter thinks it’s fair,” Hinch said, laughing.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.