READING, Pa. - Dusty Wathan was entering the ninth grade when his father became manager of the Kansas City Royals. John Wathan had retired just 16 months earlier. He made an almost seamless transition from Royals player to manager.
It was no surprise, Dusty Wathan thought. His dad had been working at Royals Stadium for almost Dusty Wathan's entire life. Of course, his dad was the manager. And Wathan, who is now chasing his own major-league coaching dreams, would soon find out that his father's quick path was far from the norm.
Dusty Wathan, 42, has spent almost his entire adult life in minor-league baseball.