The year was 2001. Neal Heaton and Ron Matz were watching 10-year-old Steven Matz pitch when Heaton told Ron Matz something he had trouble taking seriously.
"I told Ron, 'Your son's special, and he's going to pitch in the big leagues someday.' That was after just one year of working with Steven.''
Ron laughed. "You probably say that to everyone,'' he said.
Heaton shook his head.
" 'I've only ever said that to one other person, Marcus Stroman's father,' I told him. I coached Marcus since he was 9, too, and you know how it worked out with him.