Diamondbacks Prospect Brady Counsell Faces Off Against Cubs Manager Dad Craig

The father-son duo square off as Brady Counsell makes his spring training debut against his dad's team.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Brady Counsell, a 22-year-old infielder/outfielder, is set to play in a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs, who are managed by his father, Craig Counsell. This will mark Brady's professional debut, as he was drafted by the Diamondbacks last year but has yet to play in an official minor league game. The Counsells gathered at home plate before the game for the exchange of lineup cards, an emotional moment for the family.

Why it matters

The matchup between father and son is a rare and heartwarming occurrence in professional sports, providing a unique human interest story. It also highlights the Counsell family's deep baseball roots, with Craig Counsell having played 16 seasons in the majors, including six with the Diamondbacks, and now managing the Cubs, while his son Brady looks to follow in his footsteps.

The details

Brady Counsell was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 10th round last year out of college, where he hit 12 home runs. He has yet to make his professional debut, but will now get the chance to face off against his father's Cubs team in spring training. The two share similar high baseball IQs, but Brady believes he has more power than his dad did as a player. Before the game, the Counsells gathered at home plate for the exchange of lineup cards, an emotional moment organized by Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who had a similar experience with his own son a couple of springs ago.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Brady Counsell

A 22-year-old prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks system, drafted in the 10th round last year out of college where he hit 12 home runs.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs and a former 16-year MLB player, including six seasons with the Diamondbacks, with whom he won the World Series in 2001.

Torey Lovullo

The manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who helped organize the emotional home plate lineup card exchange between the Counsells.

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What they’re saying

“When I got the call that they were going to be taking me, it was super exciting to kind of be able to follow his footsteps, and hopefully, eventually, be able to bring another championship to Arizona.”

— Brady Counsell (azcentral.com)

“It's probably more emotional for the parent than it is for the son or the daughter in these situations.”

— Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks manager (azcentral.com)

“Craig is going to have a very proud dad moment, for sure.”

— Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks manager (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The game between the Diamondbacks and Cubs is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This father-son matchup in spring training highlights the deep baseball roots of the Counsell family and the emotional moments that can occur when professional athletes face off against their own family members. It provides a unique human interest story that transcends the game itself.