Austin Meadows had been in Class AAA for two days and already he got to play in front of his family. On June 20, 2016, Indianapolis traveled to Lawrenceville, Ga., a half-hour drive from Meadows’ hometown of Loganville, to face the Atlanta Braves’ Class AAA affiliate.
Meadows tore through the Eastern League for seven weeks to earn his promotion. But as that home series approached, his father, Kenny, said, Meadows’ right hamstring began acting up. In front of dozens of family members, Meadows went 0 for 19 in four games. Two weeks later he went on the disabled list.