WATCH: Washington Nationals Send Out Darren Baker to Greet Father With Lineups During Spring Training In Heartwarming Gesture

With spring training finally resuming for a majority of the league, baseball is definitely on its way back. And with the action that comes with it; so do some special moments. It seemed all the truer in a training game between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros to start the season; Darren and Dusty Baker both took the field from opposite teams to exchange lineups. And while the father-son duo met on the diamond, their exchange was nothing short of heartwarming.

While Darren Baker is a minor leaguer currently a part of the Washington Nationals’ farm system, his father Dusty Baker is a part of the Houston Astros set-up and was their manager as the two took on each other. Making their way to the diamond, it was a surprise for the Astros’ Dusty Baker when he found himself swapping team sheets with his son on the other side. The two shared smiles with match officials there too just before the game began.

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Darren and Dusty Baker share a heartwarming moment

Reportedly, the moment was orchestrated by Nationals’ Manager Dave Martinez; who was with Dusty Baker as a player when they were both with the San Francisco Giants in 1993-94. Managing to keep it under wraps up until the two made their way to home plate, Martinez was preparing for this since the start of spring training. Said Martinez, “It was good to see those two out there together.”

Reportedly, for things to fall into place and the surprise to remain intact, several variables had to be organized. Minor Leaguer Darren Baker was called up to camp with less than an hour’s notice to keep him from telling his father anything. After finally arriving at camp, he was then told about the special moment and being fielded on the squad.

But the true meaning in the moment came at home plate when the two exchanged line-ups and shared a familial bond about it all. “He hugged me, and I was going to leave and he wanted to give me another hug and the umpire said, ‘No more hugging,’” Dusty said.

Baker did his father proud through the game too. Notching up an RBI single as well as a sac fly to bring in a runner from third; Baker certainly had his father’s chest swelling with pride. “I was more impressed with his ability to get that runner in with two strikes,” said Dusty Baker. “He’s usually pretty good at picking up runners with less than two outs. I harp on it all the time. It cost me.”

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And with baseball marking its return; we’re surely in to see several more moments on the diamond that will warm our hearts.

But what’re your fondest baseball memories? Do you have any that you remember with your old man?