Family Plays A Central Role For Marlins Catcher
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA By Lauren Miró
For baseball star Jarrod Saltalamacchia, joining the Miami Marlins means coming home — home to his family, and home to the place he grew up. On Dec. 3, 2013, Saltalamacchia signed a three-year contract with the Marlins, bringing him home to Wellington, where he splits time as a baseball catcher and dad to three little girls — Sidney, 7, Hunter, 6, and Sloane, 3, and husband to Ashley. “Getting to be home more is amazing,” said Saltalamacchia, who graduated from Royal Palm Beach High School before embarking on his baseball career. “And it’s great being with the Marlins. They’ve been great to us.” With Marlins’ spring training in Jupiter, it means Saltalamacchia is closer to home than ever. “I tell everyone that I’m pinching myself just to make sure I’m here,” wife Ashley Saltalamacchia said. “It has been the biggest blessing, for our family and also our career. Being his wife, I’m so happy to have the opportunity to have a normal, structured life for our girls.” Family is important to the Saltalamacchias — almost all their family continues to live in the western communities. Father-in-law Dale Perry said Jarrod is a great family man and an amazing
father. “He’s very family oriented,” he said. “He really has figured out, as best he can, how to balance being a good dad with his career. He wants his family with him. When he’s away, he calls them and goes on Skype constantly.” And despite long hours on the road and playing well into the night, Ashley said he makes sure to be there for the little things. “He has never not been involved with the kids,” she said. “For instance, he doesn’t sleep in. He’ll do his thing at night, and then get up with the kids early and spend two to three hours with them before he has to go to the field.” And almost every morning, Jarrod is up taking the girls to school. “It’s just what he does; he doesn’t want to miss anything,” Ashley said. “He wants to be hands on, to balance his ca-
reer and family life. Being home has allowed him much more flexibility.” Jarrod said his daughters light up his world. “As soon as I see them, seeing their faces light up, it’s stuff like that you’ll never forget as a father,” he said. “It lights me up every time and reminds me why I’m a father. I just love them so much.” Whether it’s taking his family on the road with him or getting them up for school in the morning, Jarrod said he’s just grateful to spend time watching his girls grow. “There’s just so many things to love about being a dad,” he said. “I just honestly love spending time with them in the morning, whether it’s waking them up in the morning and getting to take them to school, or taking them to games.”
‘There’s just so many things to love about being a dad. I just honestly love spending time with them, whether it’s waking them up in the morning and getting to take them to school, or taking them to games.’ Jarrod Saltalamacchia
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June 2014 |wellington the magazine| 10th Anniversary