For Pat Neshek, baseball has always been more than a career. It’s the way he connects with his son, Hoyt. From backyard games of catch to long summer tournaments, the sport has become their bond, one built not on wins or accolades, but on time spent together.
Pat sees himself in the way Hoyt grins after a big hit, in the sidearm motion that sometimes slips into his delivery, and in the unshakable joy he carries onto the field.
Neshek was drafted in 2002 and pitched until 2019, when a torn hamstring during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies marked his final big-league appearance.
Along the way, he represented six MLB clubs and reached the pinnacle of international baseball as a member of Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where the U.S. captured its WBC title.
“Every other country, like the Dominican, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, they brought so many fans out that it felt like we were the visiting team in Miami. Honestly, it was the coolest atmosphere I’ve ever seen. And we weren’t even the favorite, the ‘home team’. They didn’t want us to win. So it was awesome… But to go through Japan in the semis and then beat Puerto Rico in the championship, it was just incredible. It was like playoff baseball in March.”
The competitiveness that drove him through those moments is now channeled into a different kind of role: mentor, coach, and father.
A two-time All-Star, Neshek’s career was defined by perseverance, adaptability, and an unshakable love for the game. But when the longtime reliever reflects on what baseball has truly meant to him, his thoughts don’t settle on box scores.
Now getting to experience that joy all over again through his son, Neshek recalls watching Hoyt discover the game for himself.
For Hoyt, baseball has always been a part of life. His earliest memories include tagging along in big-league clubhouses, running around the field during batting practice, and playing ping pong and wiffle ball with his dad’s teammates.
“It was cool getting to bring him in later in my career,” Pat said. “A lot of guys would let their kids hit BP or play catch when they were young. By the time Hoyt came around, I was the older guy in the clubhouse, and I loved being able to bring him along. He thought it was normal life, but I knew how special it was.”
That connection still leads to funny moments. The Nesheks laughed when recalling a recent game when Hoyt’s delivery caught an umpire’s eye.
“One umpire told me, ‘Hey, you kind of pitch like Pat Neshek,’ not knowing that he was my dad,” Hoyt laughed.
Hoyt admits those experiences shaped his love for the sport, saying:
“I liked just being around it; hitting, watching, learning.”
When asked if he sees himself in his son, Pat smiles.
“Honestly, he’s a way better hitter than I ever was,” he said. “I didn’t have power. His mom played softball at Mercer, and I think he gets a lot of that from her. But every once in a while, when he throws a sidearm, I see a little piece of myself in him, too.”
That connection goes beyond mechanics.
The lessons Pat absorbed during his career are now central to how he teaches Hoyt the game: focus on the fundamentals, learn to embrace failure, and, above all, enjoy the experience.
The Nesheks’ baseball journey has been filled with shared experiences. From Little League, where Pat eventually stepped in to coach Hoyt’s team, to the opportunities Hoyt has had with USA Baseball’s National Team Identification Series (NTIS), the game continues to create lasting memories.
“Last year he played in NTIS (Champions Cup) at just 10 years old, competing with the 11’s,” Pat said. “It was cool to see him go up against that level of competition. Jake Fox, a former big leaguer, coached his team. They didn’t win a lot of games, but the experience was incredible. A bunch of those kids went on to make the national team that won gold in Taiwan, and he got to face them. That’s something special.”
Their favorite memory together? Both father and son point to a summer filled with travel, tournaments, and one unforgettable performance.
“Cooperstown was awesome, we stayed in the bunks, played games all over, and got the full experience,” Pat said. “But last year, he won a home run derby at the Field of Dreams site in Iowa. There were 110 kids, and he hit all three of his pitches out, then did it again in the finals. I was so proud of him for that. His hitting impressed me. It's fun seeing the practice and the work he puts in, and then seeing it translated on the field.
For Hoyt, though, the memories are less about trophies and more about time spent together.
The road ahead is still being written for Hoyt, but the foundation is set. He has goals, he has passion, and most importantly, he has the guidance of a father who has lived the game at its highest level.
For the Nesheks, the game is more than a sport. It is tradition, it is family, and it is a bridge between generations.
From the World Baseball Classic to a backyard game of catch, from All-Star moments to Little League tournaments, Pat and Hoyt share a story that embodies the gold standard of baseball: the joy of passing the game down.
