KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Baltimore pitcher Jamie Walker is celebrating the birth of a child whose name is certain to get plenty of attention in Detroit.
The left-handed reliever, who spent the past five years playing for the Tigers, christened his 6-pound, 14-ounce son James Leyland.
But, no, it’s not in honor of Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
The lad is actually named after Jamie’s dad, James Walker, and his wife Natalie’s grandfather, Leyland Estes.
“They both fought in World War II and the baby was born on Memorial Day,” Walker said. “We both liked the name, so we thought what the heck.”
He knows everyone will assume he named his son after his former manager.
“I’ll catch a lot of flack for that. But that’s fine,” he said. “Jim Leyland’s a good man. My wife loves Jim Leyland, loves the guy to death. He’s a great manager and a great guy. If people want to think we named the baby after him, let them.”
The Walkers now have two boys and two girls.
Walker signed as a free agent with Baltimore after helping get the Tigers to the World Series last season. He is 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA this season.
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